I used to follow Valente on LJ back in the day (by which I mean at least a decade ago now, god), and it's literally after only looking it up right this minute that I've learned that Palimpsest *wasn't* her first novel. From memory I bought a copy specifically because I loved her LJ and wanted to support her work, but never finished it and she drifted off my radar until the Fairyland novels came out, although I've not read them, either.

I was doubly delighted that Space Opera was so good, given all that. :) I'm nearly tempted to track down a copy of Palimpsest and try it again with my more adult eye.