"CRYPTONOMICON" -- worth it or not?

Was surprised -- it was a real leap in technique for Stephenson. I went back and read 'Snow Crash' later, and you wouldn't know it was the same author.

Some folks find it boring, from what I gather. I was weaned on Asimov, Bova, Clarke and Heinlein, though. Depends on whether you like an author who joyfully obsesses over the nuts and bolts of the story or not.

I'm still wondering.

YES!!!

Not that I'm strongly opinioned one way or the other, but YES IT IS.

I've read it a few times, it's always excellent, and I've even bought copies for friends. And not just because it's brilliant writing, but also because it's all geeks, and Stepheson does so much dialogue and inner-thinking parts that, I feel, totally reveal the inner-thinking processes of math and science and computer and engineer geeks. Since that is me, and since so many people don't really understand how my mind works, I gave them this book so they could understand. Of all the books I've read, this is the one that explains at least my thinking processes the best.

Have you read anything else by Stephenson? If you like him, you will DEFINITELY enjoy this book. It's Stephenson, but amped up.

yeah, he does an amazing job of capturing computer/math/science geeks. A couple of years ago I let my then-girlfriend read it, and when I asked her how she liked it after she'd read a few chapters, she said "this guy (Lawrence Waterhouse) reminds me of you." Since I really related to the character, I took it as a compliment...

I'm reading Quicksilver right now, which is a sequel of sorts.

I'm not a fan of his other work but this one is terrific! A great read, go for it.

Or at least spend the extra bucks for the trade paperback. Belongs on a list of the 10 best novels of the '90's. Stephenson makes the transition from cyberpunk to more "literary" fiction brilliantly. Reads kind of like a cross between Thomas Pynchon and Umberto Eco (without being derivative).

Sorry I no I am not supposed to say that.

Blah ending there.

I like his books but the endings are always so 'pat'.

Promise

I read the first three hundred pages of "Crpt" , thought it was great and then heard that there would be 3 more prequels. BLAHHHH!!!!


I now understand why. He's especially doing his version of the "Illuminatus Trilogy".

Holy hell!!

And yes, there is a three book prequel (or will be). The second one just came out, and I picked it up last weekend, though I've not finished the first book yet. I'm enjoying it, but it doesn't have the energy of his otehr novels - moves a little slower, and VERY full of dialogue. It's not bad, it's just different, and doesn't have that riotous level of energy of his other books.

Nah....I don't know how that came across. More like 3 days (100 pgs a day)

And that you had asked about the book initially, I assumed you hadn't read it yet - or any part of it. Then at 12:13 you said "I'll read them all, promise" then at 12:26 you posted "I have to say WAY" and that you had read 300 pages.

I assumed you'd not read even one page, given your initial posts, then you came back with such a strong "WAY!"....

That's why I thought you'd done 300 pages in 13 minutes. :-)

:shrug:

I guess you have to read it and decide for yourself, Kef. I will say that I don't regret having read it. Just couldn't get into it.

I DO agree with your taste in Lit. I'm glad we share the same feelings about the book.

I read half the book, and sorta liked it, but not quite. However, now that I know it is part of this grand retelling of history...well, that's made it make me think about reading it again.

grab it before it goes out of print

The Diamond Age is my favorite of his but Crytonomicon is good.

I really liked it.

The style of "Quicksilver" is better, and the earlier Stephenson books can be more entertaining (Zodiac, Snow Crash, The Diamond Age, the Big U,...), but all are very good reads.

An outstanding read.

Is his inablity to finish stories (eg. The Diamond Age).

Now that I know it's sort of his version of Robert Anton Wilson's Illiminatus Trilogy, I'm interested in it.

I really thought it was really good. As with most really good books, I think he had trouble with the ending. Quicksilver is really good, the guy has a knack for making you laugh throughout the book. :thumbsup:

The whole book is geek porno. Get rich and get the girl? Please.

But to each his own.

and didn't particularly enjoy it.

:shrug:

and trees rape you, and you have to cut off your own hand because it becomes demonically possessed, and....

oh wait. That's the NECROnomicon.

never mind....