This book is criminally boring. I imagine in ‘88 it was riveting but I think the genre has catabolized this formula as it is intensely predictable and tropey. Hey meet some gay characters that, for some reason have to speak in broken English; never mind they’re dead shortly after anyways. Most of the characters don’t feel lived in and real, only lenses for which Banks to spout political views, often at the expense of peripheral characters like the love interest. All to educate the unlikable and bland Horza until such time as exposition to contextualize the political views need to take place; then he and Yalson actually start thinking and considering things beyond their own shitty actions. It just felt completely unbelievable.

I did like the writing style sometimes and I liked the intent of the political views, just did not care for the execution. I’ve heard later books are much better, so will try the next one despite how annoying and boring this one was.

Complete filler