Started off well, got super-boring half-way through. Basically just a series of conversations between powerful men about politics, economics, religion. There are some good ideas here (especially about the interelations between capitalism, religion, imperialism), but as fiction this feels inadequate.
There is one female character who appears for a few pages (in mostly negative light), and a girl is mentioned briefly (with regards to trying on jewelry). Tsk tsk Asimov. Bechdel test: failed.