Well, my h/c copy finally trailed in this afternoon. As Wil says, the quality is good and I'm pleased I chose to get the hardback.

It's got blue cloth covers with a mainly black dust jacket, 200 pages or so (inc the index and appendices). I doubt I will fold it flat, but it's well enough glued that I'd have no hesitation in doing if I had a reason to... And who knew it would take 24 lines of text just to list the named planets of the Gaean Reach!? I'm sure they'll all have their own separate entries as well, although some (many?) will merely be a note of what book it's named in, because there are no other details. It also has occasional symbols like simple Wankh chimes that I've not come across the significance of yet.* It also has various maps, plans and tables.
I may just have to pause reading William Gibson's latest novel, The Peripheral, and dip more deeply into this book.

* ah, they/re actually simple logos, usually representing some aspect of the planet being described.


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