I think, as I was saying to someone else recently, that this book picks up and magnifies a lot of the gender weirdness present in Kay's other work. So a faint itch turned into 'aaaaah.'

What I need to do is try Tigana or Lions, as they come highly recommended and will probably clear my pallet nicely.

Agree with you, though, about the interest mosaic-making parts. I did like that. Not so much the so far pointless chariot racing and partisanship.