...there were, what? Three different plot threads going on: Tau Ceti, Ohtori Academy, Babylon 5...

And EVERY time the story went from one to another I went "Wait, no, come back I want to see this one play out..." which ever thread I was leaving.

That's very impressive. I get the feeling I might have appreciated it more if I'd just re-read Clarion Call, admittedly. Oh well. I probably WILL re-read that one shortly anyway...