This took a couple of chapters to get fully into, but really is a great story. Full of humanity, subtle questioning, and dramatic yet natural character development, The Wild Shore also has gripping action and beautiful scenery. Robinson's is the best realistic sci-fi I've read - I find it very impressive how the full power of SF/F imaginary worlds can be used in such a realistic way - and I'll certainly read the rest of the Three Californias.

As ever, Ursula K. Le Guin puts it elegantly:

There's a fresh wind blowing in The Wild Shore... welcome, Kim Stanley Robinson

Nearly 40 years after The Wild Shore was written, the wind is still fresh, but brings with it the disappointment that little has improved.