3.5 I'm glad I did not read the reviews before I read the book...This meant I was surprised along the way as to how the story unfolded. Reading the reviews after helped me appreciate segments more. Its interesting to read the good and the not so good reviews. Really boils down to whether you like sci fi or not. I'm in the middle. I got stuck at many of the technological explanations and found I skimmed over those frequently. Howerver the storyline is good I thought. Reality in the beginning - could it really happen ? to a bit of disbelief in the last third -- could those few survivors really create the future as they did? doesn't seem plausible Then again - that's sci fi!