Conflicted about Air

It's just been announced that Geoff Ryman's book Air has won the Tiptree. And I'm feeling conflicted. I've adored all his books (Was, The Child Garden, 253). Except Air! I read about half of it, feeling like I was trudging the whole way. I finally gave myself permission to stop and skip to the end to read the last chapter or two. Sometimes that inspires me to go back and read the intervening chapters, but nope, not this time.

The first time I tried to read Little, Big, I couldn't get into it, so I talked to people about why they loved it. The next time I picked it up, I couldn't set it down. So tell me, anyone who has read Air and loved it, what was it about it? I'm willing to give Air another try.

Fractal!

One of my beloved Romanesco cauliflowers:



(Question -- is this picture too big? Should I put it behind a cut?)