3 out of 5 stars 
 The Best Of All Possible Worlds may not be just that, but it takes a good run at it. Being released under the Del Rey imprint, I expected one of two things: either a light, fun, over-the-top space opera; or a "serious" hardcore science fiction novel. Karen Lord decides to buck the trend and gives us neither. At its lowest common denominator, this is a romance in a sci-fi setting, but it doesn't belong in the pile of bodice-rippers and trashy beach reads, either. Lord straddles the two genres and comes away with something that's neither fish nor fowl; yet it's still an enjoyable read. 
 What I will say right off the top is, most of the guys and hard science geeks are going to want to leave this one on the shelf. I feel strange saying that, like it's sexist, but the meat of this one is in the relationships, and in my experience, that sort of thing is more attractive to women and metrosexual types. 
 The author carries her influences like a billboard, and this work has the distinct flavor of the Golden Age Humanist writers like Heinlein, and some of her characters are so Star Trek-esque that she might as well have just called them Vulcans. But to be fair, that archetype has largely been co-opted by that franchise, so one could say Lord is brave for daring to play with the toys that have become so well associated with that universe. Aside from that, the exploration of how emotion and communication effect relationships is interesting, and the main character is one anyone who has ever dated a "reserved" personality can relate to. 
 Overall I would say this reads more like a "literary romance" than anything else, and those who enjoy both speculative fiction and literary romance will enjoy this work. It would be a good piece as a gentle introduction into the Sci-Fi genre for a reader of more contemporary novels. Hardcore Sci-Fi geeks should consider picking this up for a girlfriend as a Valentines Day gift.