It is a good book with a good main character that fits the bill only very parcially. It's a hardcore sci-fi written by a man. It has a wonderful female main character, though, who's strong yet feminine, enjoys her femininity and sexuality and there's no love story - more like background of some past or present relationships of diverse nature. I liked it a lot because of the strong lead and I'm sorry it is not as popular as Weir's other books. I think the fact that the lead is a strong muslim sexually active and openminded woman who doesn't care she'll never have children was a death sentence for the book - too many no-nos for our society. I loved it though.