Similarities with Asimov's foundation - possibility to predict the future through mathematics. Felt like it was book 1 of a series for the most part of the book but then it had a real ending. could have gone deeper into the psychoanalysis of the different Affinities, but as such was a good start to make a point: any type of categorisation of people can be dangerous. people stick to their group and leave others out causing tension and jealousy and war of power.