I'm a well read grad student who's bluntly honest about all things, although I try to be most honest about myself.
I wasn't that into Grid, and I wasn't that into this story but it really picks up steam. Everything, even what seems to be an odd introduction to this story, turns out to have been planned in great detail.
In fact, the use of a character I never thought I'd see again was delightful, thoughtful, and simply added so much to this story, including a realization that Grid comes to that will, and does, change the path of his life.
The only thing I'm sad about is that after this, and the final issue, number eleven, this series is over, completely.