Yes, that is the disturbing element that made me stop reading twice. I pushed past that eventually and came to appreciate the story as a whole. This does not mean I or the characters in the story condone it or forgive it.
Update: his other magnificent sci fi series, "The Gap" also deals with extreme abuse. His works are not comfortable, but they are great stories.
Update: his other magnificent sci fi series, "The Gap" also deals with extreme abuse. His works are not comfortable, but they are great stories.