This book is a good example of a gripping story that just happens to have a science fiction setting. I was chuckling all the way through!

I'd recommend it both for fans and for anyone who needs convincing that science fiction isn't all trash.

In the post this morning - I don't need convincing that all SF is trash, but am looking forward to it! It'll be a while, but not too long, hopefully.

Not sure why I forgot to make a JE on this when I finished it last month. I enjoyed it a lot, but had a lot of reservations, which are difficult to mention without spoiling for anyone who might read this. OK, white font if I can remember how to manage it.
The mother was named Medea, which should have been a tip-off of the largest sort, but I just couldn't believe that a mother who'd shown no real signs of evilness for 17 years would be thatbad. Plus, why had the US divided up into these weird groups, with this one going 'Hellene'? And what did the two authors have against Quebec? The thing that bothered me most of all though, was the complete and total, unshaded nastiness of the real villainess. Even so, her summary execution without trail didn't seem a great idea. Connie Willis just doesn't do such light morality normally.
Still a nice hero, and engaging heroine too, and a lot of engaging secondary characters, including the kids. Thanks for the loan PDB!