The book has mostly long sentences, long paragraphs, long chapters, and lots of description. The author's style is simple and straight forward. The book is a leisurely read. The background is detailed and affects the atmosphere. The focus of story is on action, situations, and events.
Characterization focuses on several characters of different sexes whose lives are intertwined.
There are series characters, followed through and developed over several related novels. The book is sophisticated, complex, experimental. The ending wraps everything up. Earth's governments become paranoid about biological contamination. The book is long.