Although I love science fiction film making, I don't really like to read hard sci fi because I just don't appreciate the tropes and conventions of the genre as it's written. To me (and there are definite exceptions) it feels often like too much description, not enough characterization. This book, on the other hand, had me riveted. The characters have decent motivation and a rational response to the challenges of their situation. The setting is like a Ridley Scott space-thriller combined with the dark tone of French existential horror. Bob Boyczuk found my sci fi sweet spot and tickled it for almost four hundred pages. And then, just when I was really liking the story, someone goes and throws fetus brains and I realized I LOVE THIS FRIGGIN' BOOK!