The ideas in it are fascinating (if also dated). The characters, though, are insanely 1 dimensional. It's very obviously a 1 micron thin story layered over the scaffold of ideas. After looking at it that way, I could get through the series without groaning or laughing a lot.

Reminds me of Perry Rhodan.

The wiki was awesome. Some of the best world building I've ever seen.

The novels, however, were atrocious.