This has a great concept but also doesn’t execute it as well as it could have. I’m usually behind soft worldbuilding, but there’s so many questions raised from the conceit the author asks of the reader, the longer the story goes on, the more apparent this thing needs more buttressing. I suspect that a novella or short story with this premise might be the superior structure for what this wants to be about.

However, there is legitimately fantastic human moments between people and some commentary on capitalism and social structures. It’s not perfect on this front, specifically with dialogue, but it is absolutely when it is at its best.

Merged review:

This has a great concept but also doesn’t execute it as well as it could have. I’m usually behind soft worldbuilding, but there’s so many questions raised from the conceit the author asks of the reader, the longer the story goes on, the more apparent this thing needs more buttressing. I suspect that a novella or short story with this premise might be the superior structure for what this wants to be about.

However, there is legitimately fantastic human moments between people and some commentary on capitalism and social structures. It’s not perfect on this front, specifically with dialogue, but it is absolutely when it is at its best.