Another Google reviewer calls the story "pure pornography". It is many things, but pornography isn't one of them. It's SF, it's philosophy, it's a tale which can be read as an analogy for the way our 21st century, Western lifestyle is dependent on the suffering of others we ignore at our peril. It can also be a launch-pad for an exercise in critical thinking -- the ability to analyze info, make judgements, and learn about the values which matter most. Read it!