Extremely interesting novel, which is surprisingly easy to read. The narrative structure appears complicated, as it is a sort of temporal palindrome (first chapter in same narrative threas as last, second chapter in same thread as penultimate chapter etc.), but it actually seems to make sense when you get stuck into it. Style-wise, it rather defies comparison. Shades of Atwood (the Somni chapters), O'Brian (the Ewing 19th Century nautical scenes) and even Tom Sharpe (the hapless Cavendish farce).

Maybe the structure is a sort of Ziggurat, with the same implications of rise and fall of both individuals and civilisations, and the aroma of human sacrifice in order to satisfy power.

But don't let that put you off. It really is a great read.