I’m not sure who all considers the whole trilogy to be masterful–

The Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel, given out by readers of Locus Magazine (other people can vote now too, but their votes count less than subscribers, I don’t know if that’s how it worked back then) gave Quicksilver 3rd place in 2004, and the other two tied for first place in 2005.

https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ay.cgi?28+2004 Wow, I’ve read nothing from this year?
https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ay.cgi?28+2005 and only Camouflage from this year? Seriously? I guess I mostly read older stuff? I have the highest hopes for the Gene Wolfe books (which are only ever published as one book now), but River of Gods or Blind Lake will probably be the next one I end up reading.

In 2012 they voted the cycle as a whole the 23rd best Sci-Fi novel of the 21st century. Anathem was #2, after John Scalzi’s Old Man War, a book that made me feel like I was eating a bucket of sawdust swept up in Robert Heinlein’s garage.

https://www.locusmag.com/2012/AllCenturyPollsResults.html

Btw, I don’t think that The Diamond Age has a bad ending, I just think it’s too rushed. That one actually should have been a little longer.