KSR has always been a big ideas guy and as long as the story focused on the translation of idea to consequence his books have been able to be self sustaining – the Mars series as a good example. Ministry for the Future certainly has the “idea” component nailed – but the characters are flat, undeveloped and consequently not compelling – I didn’t really care when one or another got knocked off (literally or figuratively). Bringing in a host of capable narrators can’t fix the basic problem that KSR has had for years – he can’t properly develop a character that you actually feel is alive and into whom it is worth investing your psychic energy.