I love the book, but still rolled my eyes at the mystery mysticism. Then again, I haven't reread it in years.
IIRC There is a bit in the book that states the surface of the Way is Terraformed for a billion km or so around axis city. I took that as implying that at least some humans live on the surface and a diaspora among worlds connected to the Way is implied.
I also recall an explanation about evacuation of the thistledown being because they knew that when the way was connected that they'd been whipped into another universe, assumed it was a crap one and yolo'd down the way. Also, that it was forced by the geshels(?) and the naderites were none to happy about it.
I actually prefer my SF to not get too deep into tech details. It avoids the story being dated by the technology of the time of its writing: e.g so much golden age SF describe computers as banks of switches and spools of tapes.
I found that the sequel Eternity, while a bit of a slog, fills in quite a few of those gaps.
Auckland's PT is excellent getting in and out of and through the CDB, which is where the the congestion charges would apply.
Reducing congestion makes everyone who actually needs to drive a vehicle to/from/for work lives' easier.
It's still regressive, like any flat tax, in that the charge will impact lower incomes more. That can be alleviated by moving marginal tax rates to compensate.
I love the book, but still rolled my eyes at the mystery mysticism. Then again, I haven't reread it in years.
IIRC There is a bit in the book that states the surface of the Way is Terraformed for a billion km or so around axis city. I took that as implying that at least some humans live on the surface and a diaspora among worlds connected to the Way is implied.
I also recall an explanation about evacuation of the thistledown being because they knew that when the way was connected that they'd been whipped into another universe, assumed it was a crap one and yolo'd down the way. Also, that it was forced by the geshels(?) and the naderites were none to happy about it.
I actually prefer my SF to not get too deep into tech details. It avoids the story being dated by the technology of the time of its writing: e.g so much golden age SF describe computers as banks of switches and spools of tapes.
I found that the sequel Eternity, while a bit of a slog, fills in quite a few of those gaps.