This is a sensitive look at what humanity could be if we combined a dose of tolerance with a shot of humor. The background, a potential infinity of earth's spinning off a probability tree, is an interesting thought, but, the story of the people, and how a central authority learns to let go, is a story for our times. This was not what I was expecting from these two, and the result is a very thoughtful gift. It was good to finish up on Christmas Day.

I've read most of SB's published work and at least a half dozen from Terry Pratchett. I find Baxter to be original, innovative, and I have enthusiastically endorsed his fiction to others. Mr. Pratchett I enjoy as well, although I'm not as well-read when it comes to his work. The two "Long Earth" novels left me less than satisfied. Neither book bothers to develop or complete a human story in conjunction with the discovery of a vast multiverse waiting to explored/exploited. The narrative does not maintain a single character as focus to the point where I become vested in that character. The conclusions to both installments leave me without the vast imaginings for which I so love sci-fi in general, and Baxter in particular. I am still a fan and look forward to further work, but I'll leave the Long Earth series alone, should another one appear.