Indeed, the real present, is already impossible to grasp for one man, a realistic projection of it in the near future (non-apocalyptic, simplifying the problem) is unattainable. However, we must recognize at Stross of trying to change habits, especially sexual morality, a rather surprisingly I must say. He also proposed an elegant solution to interfacing Human / Computer by shifting to the plasticity of the human spirit the burden of delegation of high-level cognitive tasks to specialized IT staff. But social changes implicit in the story, and they are huge, have reported that through the interaction of the clan Macx with the rest of the World. This is largely insufficient, certainly the computer revolution (a consequence of the revolution in miniaturization in reality he seems) is important, but we do not live of love and fresh water and it seems to me we reach at this moment the physical limits of our world (Energy, Water and Food).
Future short it is seen that the small end of the telescope, other authors have done much better (Walter Jon Williams and John C. Wright). Finally Stross narrative method in the High-Tech novels seems doomed to failure, rather than adopt the point of view of his characters, in which case the description of the on-intelligence becomes difficult indeed, it continues to place an outside perspective, attempting to describe in detail the operation technologies for the wonders he described. It's heavy, abstruse, and more unrealistic. Note that if you want to get an idea of the novel for not round, it should still be available as a PDF on the web, provided by its author. If not rush to his best novel: Office atrocities!
