Brightness Reef is some of the best science-fiction I've read in a long time. The world is totally new, as are the alien races (I've not read the earlier series). Yet all are approachable. The entire cast of characters is endearing and thought-provoking. 
 This novel does what the best of science-fiction does, it gets me to think. It triggers new synapses, and I appreciate that. I'd recommend this novel to any science-fiction buff, yet I don't think it's unapproachable for the newbie either. In the end, it's a compelling story, sci-fi elements aside.