Very enjoyable and right up my street

"This kind of sci-fi is right up my street, and I really enjoyed the setting. The world feels interesting and has plenty of potential for future stories. That said, I found some of the characters a little two-dimensional at times. Chen and her crew occasionally came across as somewhat pedantic, bordering on obtuse, which felt odd given that they're scientists witnessing what should be the discovery of a lifetime. It would have been great to see some of them gradually warm to Max as the story progressed. One small note for the author: I noticed Chen is sometimes referred to by her first name and sometimes by her surname. I occasionally found this a little confusing while reading. If this was a deliberate stylistic or dramatic choice, I'd be interested to hear the reasoning behind it. Max was probably my favourite character. He's funny, relatable, and his dialogue often made me smile. However, his humour occasionally veers a little too close to Wade Wilson territory with the constant witty backhanders. I think this could be toned down slightly without losing what makes him entertaining. At times, it also risks making him feel a bit too capable when compared with Chen and the rest of the cast. Overall, I really enjoyed this story and would happily recommend it to sci-fi fans. It's well-paced, funny, and lays the groundwork for what could become a very enjoyable series."