Point of View

The point of view of the novel is third person, alternating through the eyes of the three main characters: Carl, Saul, and Virginia. Each of the characters can link up to a wide number of visual feeds and external systems, allowing their perceptions to jump large spatial ranges. This can be confusing at times, as often one of them will be speaking to another character who is only present through a mech. At other times, characters contact one another through vast distances on communication channels, and can even see these other character through visual links. This accurately reflects the methods of communication necessary in space travel, and for the most part any confusion caused by the convention is quickly cleared up.

The story is recounted mostly through exposition, conversations, and action scenes. The three main characters tend to be philosophical about a number of important issues...