It's been a while since I read it. As I recall, it is better from a technical explanation side of things, while not being quite as suspenseful. (The Mote in God's Eye).
On the other, other hand, (as the Moties would say), it's the kind of read that makes you want to start building a starship in your garage.
Actually, it's "on the one hand blah blah blah, on the other hand blah blah blah, but the gripping hand is blah blah blah."