My problem was the lack of time to get to know and understand the characters in the third part. In parts 1 & 2 we get to know about the characters, their families, their lives prior to the event; we get many perspectives to judge the preparation, White Sky, etc. I felt connected to Dina, Doc Dubois, etc.

I know that some of that connection comes from the familiar, these people (in part 1 & 2) are not much different from people I know or am aware exist. But I think the length of time spent with them allows for a level of familiarity we don't get with Kath Two, Ty, and the rest.

I can see, as a writer, wanting the reader to be unfamiliar and out of sorts when they read the third part of the book. But it fails to be alien enough. Stephenson played it safe, making everything too familiar yet the characters flat and uninteresting. Whereas I'd like to learn more about the various races and their politics instead I received just a superficial primer on the subject. The ending was too neatly packaged for my tastes.