Cryptonomicon

Neal Stephenson

A fantastic read, you don't need to be particularly technically hardcore or gifted in order to...more

A fantastic read, you don't need to be particularly technically hardcore or gifted in order to enjoy this book no matter what others might say. I'm certainly not scientifically-minded or of above-average technical proficiency and this is my favourite book. And anyway, what's wrong with having to think a bit whilst reading a book?The twin plotlines stretch in time and geography from pre-WW2 China and the USA to the modern-day Tiger economies of South-East Asia. More so than technology, I think the themes of this book are wealth and political power, and how information and knowledge can wield influence in those sphere. And of course, secrecy and how keeping one's information secret means one can hold onto wealth and power. Married to this is an engrossing storyline that melds elements of spy thriller and historical drama with elements of science fiction, some incredibly witty and engaging writing, and fabulous interplay between the main protagonists. I personally also think that the critiques of academia and post-modernism are very valid, and I speak as a Master's graduate in theology. So, in short, don't be put off by the size or what you may have heard about this being a book only maths doctoral candidates could enjoy. Cryptonomicon has being a book that's touched and influenced me greatly. Stick with it, read through to the end and reap the intellectual treasures within.    hide

Well written, interesting story with memorable characters. I enjoyed it very much and recommend it...more

Well written, interesting story with memorable characters. I enjoyed it very much and recommend it even if it doesn't sound like your kind of story. I think that the back cover makes it sound kind of dull. World War 2, high tech finance, conspiracies, blah, blah, blah. Although it is very funny in places, it is not the sort of book you pick up if you are looking for a quick, light read; it took me a long time to read this one. Not that it is boring, it's just a lot of book (1,152 pages of small print). It has multiple main characters and it covers a few generations. Stephenson did a great job telling this story. I can't even imagine how hard it was to organize and write something this complicated. I will never forget Waterhouse's ejaculation management obsession, theory and formula to explain it. Good stuff.   hide

When I finished this book, it was immediately and, I thought, permanently cemented in my personal...more

When I finished this book, it was immediately and, I thought, permanently cemented in my personal book hierarchy as the best possible book ever written or to be written. Of course, I've yet to read Joyce, but that's another matter. No, this book has it all. It has humor the likes of which you simply cannot find enough of. It has action suspenseful enough to warrant another term in the progression from nailbiter to edge-of-your-seat-thriller to cliffhanger. It has all the sex you would expect to find in a Penthouse Forum article, yet it comes across as the most ethical love possible - i.e. love borne for the purpose of survival. It was with great dismay that I then picked up Time Enough For Love (by Robert Heinlein) only to find out that a better book could be written, and so now I must add another level of classification to my description to make the term "best book" remain accurate. This is "the best book to read next, if you haven't yet read it." How's that!   hide

I can definitely say that this is a fantastic book. Stephenson has a rich style (myriad hyphens and...more

I can definitely say that this is a fantastic book. Stephenson has a rich style (myriad hyphens and bracketed asides - contrary to english-teacher admonitions - allow him to pack a great deal of depth into small delightful packages) and an excellent narrative skill. I would recommend this book wholeheartedly to anyone with eyes who is not dead or stupid. However, I have to say that things seemed to kind of fall apart near the end, as though Stephenson himself became overwhelmed with the book's magnitude and had to wrap it all up quickly before the whole thing slipped from his mental grasp. This is not to say that the end is not enjoyable to read, but that it lacks the careful elegance evident in the majority of the book's front end. Perhaps he was under a publisher's deadline.   hide

I first read this book 6 or 7 years ago, and have read it once a year since. The other reviewers...more

I first read this book 6 or 7 years ago, and have read it once a year since. The other reviewers here hint at what makes it so great, but it is almost impossible to describe what the book is about (but here's a try). At it's most basic, this is a story of two guys (you could argue one guy) trying to change the world. And what a story. It is not for the faint of heart, or those who like a nice linear story with a beginning-middle-end. It is also quite a cognitive workout, if you want a story that doesn't make you think too hard, definitely leave this one on the shelf.    hide