I’m realising as I go on with this: in order to suspend disbelief in a system of fantasy technologies, sci-fi terminology and so on requires the reader to engage in a moment of trust with the writer. In other words, as a reader (especially a reader with a low tolerance for sci-fi) I find that I have to be patient with the alternate reality being created in order to have faith that the bigger picture will emerge satisfactorily. The collaborative sequelling of this story undermines this process for me, as I find myself too aware of the writers planting exposition as they go along. Personal taste, perhaps.
Coccinella