I’ve been meaning to read this for a while and was pleased to find it delivered what I expected: an entertaining mix of technology, bureaucracy and eldritch horrors (you can decide if the last by definition encompasses the other two…)

The narrative is in Bob’s first person, present tense point of view. I wasn’t especially taken with him as a character, though I wasn’t so put off as to bail out. He always managed to have the skills or items needed to meet the challenges before him, or some associate intervening at the right moment.

The office politics were boldly drawn. I wouldn’t have minded more subtlety, a bit more behind the scenes manipulation and gaslighting rather than the (office equivalent of) straight-up moustache-twirliness that came across. We were never really left in doubt of the outcome.

Overall, a fun series starter.

@mhthaung @cstross I mostly agree with your take, as I find Bob easier to swallow if you treat him as an unreliable narrator, a little Münchhausen here and there to make himself look good. Perhaps a little of Umberto Eco's Baudolino? The author may not have intended it, but I enjoy thinking each first person narrator does a little puffery here and there.

The main thing is that it was a fun read. And once I finish re-reading Dune Messiah, I’ll look at the next installment.