Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Cryptonomicon
Book Review: A cyberpunk and WWII war story smashed into one
Summary: 4 Stars
I don't usually place much weight into the book reviews publishers tag on back covers, but the review on this book really does describe it - this book is Tom Clancy mated with William Gibson with James Mitchner acting as a midwife. Even though this book is an astounding 1200+ pages, it is an engrossing read. Like Mitchner, the story weaves the lives of many generations together through a common theme. Except Mitchner never wrote about lives so exciting (Apologies to any Mitchner fans - but Hawaii was a little dull.)
There are many character threads and stories in the book, but the two main ones are the story of a WWII cryptographer (Clancy style), and the story of his Silicon Valley grandson's pursuit of an offshore data center and advanced cryptography (Gibson style). Both threads are thoroughly engrossing. The book paces perfectly, it never gets too frentic or too dull.
The character development is also done very well - Stevenson doesn't clutter the book with too many marginal characters besides his main ones and he makes most the characters very memorable. This leaves him lots of time to develop his main characters into complex and interesting people.
Stevenson's writing style is also very readable, yet not as flat as the standard supermarket fiction (or bad sci-fi for that matter). The different story threads are written in a different tone, and Stevenson uses his command of tone to provide even more character and plot development. For example, his savant WWI cryptographer thinks in mathmatical proofs, his modern-day cyberpunk in Tolkein-inspired metaphors.
If I had a complaint about this book (I don't have many) it is that the ending leaves a little to be desired. I won't give anything away, but my overall impression with the last 200 or so pages of the book was that Stevenson got tired and just started typing out some text to finish the thing up. It's not a complete breakdown, but compared to the rest of the book it is a weak showing.
Regardless, I still highly recommend this book to any cyberpunk fans, war story fans, or math geeks.
Book Review: A definate favorite
Summary: 5 Stars
I first read this book on the recommendation of my husband, a hard core Neal Stephenson fan. I had no idea what to expect, but I absolutely love it.
I take it on airplanes, it goes with us on every trip we take. He and I fight over who's going to read it next. Between the two of us, I'd say we've read it 25 times and have offered the greatest homage possible- we quote it to each other and crack up. (Pig truck! BWAAAHAHAHAHAHA!) (Display some adaptability!)
Lawrence is one of my favorite characters in literature, and Randy is quite possibly a conglomeration of many of my techno geek friends.
No- there are not a lot of fleshed out female characters in the book, but hey- it's about war and computers. There aren't a whole lot of women involved with either of those, even in this day and age.
I've recommended this book to all my voracious reader friends. I'd love to pick it for my book club, but I doubt it would fly based on length alone. Pity...
Book Review: A fantastic read, pure and simple.
Summary: 5 Stars
This was my introduction to the work of Neal Stephenson, and can I just say "Wow." Its not just the gripping plots, or the way he so deftly interweaves them. Its not the subject matter, or his ability to easily describe the intricacies of crytology, cave digging or Van Eck Phreaking in laymen's terms. Its not even the choice of subject matter: WWII code wars, lost gold, the birth of the modern computers, love lost and won, international economics, or any of that. Its the combination of all these things that make this book nearly impossible to put down. And when you do manage to pry it out of your own hands, you will end up thinking of it, and waiting impatiently for your next chance to read more.
Truly a fantastic book.
Book Review: A great book
Summary: 5 Stars
This book hops between World War II - breaking the encryption of the Nazis Enigma code - and modern day. You have a hard time seeing how the two are related until you are most of the way through the book - but it is a great ride. Highly recommended.Book Review: A great book
Summary: 5 Stars
Cryptonomicon should be read after the Baroque cycle. I think it makes Cryptonomicon even more enjoyable, however it does fall a bit short of the three books that comprise the Baroque Cycle.