I will try to keep this diatribe objective, but there is little chance I can conceal my loathing for this book. It's not just the author's use of faux film-noir speech, not just that he has created a speculative future that leaves a bad taste in my mouth. And frankly I think that the idea that an enlightened individual creating a highly sexual new spirituality is a fantastic idea. That's just it, though. The premise is actually outstanding. The thing that makes me recoil in revulsion is that this is a story with so much potential, that is so affected by its author's worldview that it becomes unpalatable. It's painful to me to read about a future where we have flying personal vehicles and bounce-tube elevators, but where all the doctors are still men and all the nurses are still women in cute uniforms. Or that a main character calls herself a "spinster" at 28. It's not like this was written entirely pre-women's movement -- it's not like it was unforseen that conceptions of gender and power might have shifted. It's just that you get the distinct idea that the author did not want them to shift.

Also - did I mention the kitchy film-noir-speak? That and the overt homophobia were completely unnerving. That's my bit.