David Mitchell is quite an acquired taste as he tends to write a string of short stories (which are then split in two) and all of the stories are connected by a theme. This book ranges from a nineteenth century 'explorer/traveller' to a post-apocalyptic future. Having enjoyed his Ghostwritten I was not disappointed here.

RELEASE NOTES:

Bookcrossers meeting

This has been in my TBR pile for ages and I hadn't realised I hadn't logged it. I've reached page 108 and I'm finding it quite demanding as each setting, is far apart in time and location and characters, and is quite rich in detail. This looks like being my Christmas holiday read and I am hoping all the settings are linked and going somewhere!

Thank the Lord, all the six stories are linked, one within another and come to a satisfactory conclusion one way or another. It's the best science fiction genre (well about half of it anyway) novel that I've read for a very long time. AS Byatt has done a perfect review for the Guardian at http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2004/mar/06/fiction.asbyatt, which explains the book very well. Two of the six voices are not at all likable but don't let that put you off. An excellent holiday read.

Not sure why I have still have this after 11 years. Enjoyed it and now passing it on!

Picked up at the Bookcrossing meet at Chelmsford. Looking forward to giving it a go.