I’ve started rereading it a few times and not got through it. I think you have to be very much in the mood.

I love the footnotes! The book is amazing even without them, but they really add texture and history to the world the author’s made.

On the audio version, when the reader got to a footnote, he just said “footnote one,” read the footnote, then said “end footnote one,” and returned to the text. Each footnote was given its own “chapter” on the disc, so someone who wanted to could skip them easily (although why would anyone want to? They’re so cool!) I thought this worked pretty well, although on a few of the really long footnotes, I lost track of the fact that I was listening to a footnote. But I can’t think of a better way to do it.

The reader on the audiobook was very good. I do recommend it, but maybe not for a first-time read.

I exactly agree with you about the details. Clarke’s created a really rich, cool fantasy world, and she writes about it so charmingly, that it makes a reread as fun as an original read (for me anyway).

Oh, I hope I haven’t spoiled your reread by talking about the end! I’m so incautious about spoilers because I’m a spoiler addict myself.

I just cannot advertise the virtues of the three-volume paperback box set enough, if the full-size book is too massive. Though part of this is just that I love a box set with all my heart. I mean, it’s books, in a box! They fit nicely in a box and are organized all the time!