Epic

Astonishingly good. The last time I read a book that swept me off my feet as thoroughly as this one, it was the very first time I read the very first Harry Potter book.

Not that there are all that many similarities, beyond that it's set in a very well-developed imaginary world and that it's also very well-written. The story is set in the distant future on a planet that was colonized by refugees from Earth. The characters are (appparently) many generations removed from that event; to them, it seems to have taken on some mythic qualities.

Because the refugees were fleeing from a world that was on the verge of destruction from warfare, they brought with them one inviolable law: no violence, EVER. All conflicts are resolved through combat within a computer role-playing game. Because this combat forms the basis of the legal system, it is vital for each citizen to have a character within the game that can win such a trial (should the need arise). The most successful players can also earn lucrative positions within the government.

As you're reading, be ready to pay close attention, because it's very easy to get caught up in the plot - it MOVES. Trust me, as much as you may be eager to find out what happens next, you don't want to miss a single word of what's happening NOW.

The descriptions are vivid and clear; game terminology is explained without being condescending.

The characters are fantastic; they are ordinary people - but not boring. They succeed and fail not because the plot demands it (or at least, not ONLY because the plot demands it) but as a result of their individual personalities and the choices they naturally make.

I go through a LOT of books. This one really stands out. Get it from your library (if they don't have a copy, demand one!) and see if you don't agree.