> humanity just deciding one day that exploration is lame and unfair so they'll forever be against letting people leave the solar system was beyond annoying Ki

> humanity just deciding one day that exploration is lame and unfair so they'll forever be against letting people leave the solar system was beyond annoying Kind of like how sea trade and settlement was banned in China after Zhenghe's travels? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haijin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haijin) A big reason for liking the book for me was just a different perspective on politics and human psychology. Not saying it was always believable, but it was certainly something fresh and new to a westerner.