Mistress of Molecules

I was nervous about this book, especially since it was supposed to be the start of a new series, and the word romance was bandied about, but rather than the usual dross that seems to pass for new science fiction and fantasy,Weinberg has conjured a very interesting universe. It's not expository in the least and it can take quite a while to become versed in the language and culture of Libra but once you do what you have is the perfect platform to talk about (hu)man's effect on the environment. A nice thread about the danger of religion is included as the world of Libra is effectively torn between theocracy and the control of corporations.[return][return]While it's far from perfect (Dan Simmons' Hyperion Cantos is still the state of the art for this type of book) it's quite an easy and diverting read. For the first time in a while I'm actually curious to continue with the rest of a new series.