This is exactly what one would expect from a Third Doctor story. Weird aliens, time travel and a somewhat plodding storyline. But about 3/4 through the secrets started being revealed and things picked up quickly. The story features The Master as well and the relationship of these two Time Lords was played well. They went to school together when younger, and despite their current animosity, Reynolds wrote them with a thread of that schoolboy relationship still in tact.

In general, I've liked all of Alastair Reynolds other books, but they were much more gripping than this one. On the other hand, Reynolds had a limited universe to work in, which may have hampered his writing. Recommended for fans of the older Who stories and die hard fans.