3.5 truly. Oddly enough: a very soothing, hard sci-fi book—albeit a little dated in sections—with some cool ideas and hopeful thorough lines. This version of earth/human future as detailed in some “flashbacks” and through copious amounts of exposition is ultimately fascinating and helps to solidify the world building. Definitely a bit boring in parts with some laughable dialogue and character dynamics at points, but ultimately I enjoyed it as my “small book travels well on the metro/offers escape from the occasional mundanity of commuting” read. Low stakes and easy to read despite the technical jargon.