This book consists of a suite of thematically, or at least geographically, connected short stories about life on a future, dying, earth. The premise sounded promising, and before this volume crossed my path I've read a total of 19 books by Cherryh without once being disappointed. This one, though, is too clever, too much idea and too little character.
Of course, short stories, at least the very short ones, are mostly about ideas as there's no time to develop character, but in this particular case it doesn't work out right.

At least it didn't for me; after several weeks of struggling I had to admit to myself that reading should be a pleasure, that this book wasn't pleasurable, and that it's OK to abandon a book.
So I did.
Maybe the last story was GREAT, but I couldn't manage. to push myself any more. I just couldn't. ( )

Very clever and inventive, but not my cup of tea. ( )