Somewhat similar to [b:Rendezvous with Rama|112537|Rendezvous with Rama (Rama, #1)|Arthur C. Clarke|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1405456427s/112537.jpg|1882772] or [b:The Martian|18007564|The Martian|Andy Weir|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1413706054s/18007564.jpg|21825181], but with more people.

Not far removed from [b:The Abyss|40289|The Abyss|Orson Scott Card|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1423648046s/40289.jpg|937985], but much drier.

Has aspects of the [b:2010: Odyssey Two|70539|2010 Odyssey Two (Space Odyssey, #2)|Arthur C. Clarke|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388271989s/70539.jpg|615175] or [b:The Hunt for Red October|19691|The Hunt for Red October (Jack Ryan Universe, #4)|Tom Clancy|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1281995542s/19691.jpg|1112006], but focused on the Chinese.

This science fiction thriller is set a plausible 50 years in the future, and concludes with a few short pages explaining how they extrapolated the technology and outcomes. I enjoyed the characters, I didn't enjoy the early infodumps, but once both were introduced the novel really started rolling. This is a big book, but it kept me coming back for more.

Does it live up to it's glowing blurbs? Maybe. Let's put it this way - don't read the book for these borderline unbelievable "quotes".

I understand [a:John Sandford|4610|John Sandford|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1202524015p2/4610.jpg] is really great with characters and often focuses on Minnesota. This book did the former (but contains a chief engineer from the latter) but many reviewers thought these characters were not his best. I liked them enough, and look forward to comparing this writing to something he is really known for. Basically recommended.