5

I agree, the second book is much stronger as a work of art. Juicy, short, but expressively written out сharacters. Not expected rotational displacements of a plot.
As to «the parents of cataclysms». I disagree. They are designated clearly enough. Not in detail featured, as to someone it may be desirable. It’s are namely designated. Perhaps, while. Impossibility to contain all incremented economically inefficient both frankly parasitic regions, conflicts of elite because of a drying out pie, natural cataclysms to which appear all not ready... All these problems, in practice, now blanket for all countries, including "developed". In Russia they will be simply endured much more painfully and catastrophic because of feeble institutes of self-management, a total absence of the horizontal structures, not decreasing paternalistic moods and so forth
But in this part I was more amazed with another - short digression across Europe. If the author does not deceive, and this part is really written in 2011, it is necessary to donate the due to his insight. The entrance control on socio-cultural adaptation, boarding houses for children of refugees from the Near East, «revolution of idlers», system of cities with different level of access and so on. Already reminds today's Europe. And, especially, very plausiblly features quite real not so remote prospects.
Entertaining book. It is interesting what else the author will predict.