Neil Stephenson

[Narcisus]

I read Seveneves a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it although it doesn't seem to be well liked. Fancy having a go at one of his other books any recommendation's ?

Is it better to start at his first book and work through ?

[Mr E]

Snow Crash is excellent.
Cryptonomicon also well done (and ahead of its time)

I liked Anatham and the baroque cycle, but accept these may not to everyone’s taste

[Narcisus]

Mr E said:

Snow Crash is excellent.
Cryptonomicon also well done (and ahead of its time)

I liked Anatham and the baroque cycle, but accept these may not to everyone’s taste

Cheers Cryptonomicon £2.99 on Amazon that's my next read

[JulianHJ]

Mr E said:

Snow Crash is excellent.
Cryptonomicon also well done (and ahead of its time)

I love both of these - lost count how many times I've read them.

[Zumbruk]

His early stuff is great and Snow Crash is *awesome*.

In later years his stuff got Too Long. Still OK, bit needs better editing. (Famous Author Syndrome, I guess.)

[grumbledoak]

Narcisus said:

Cheers Cryptonomicon £2.99 on Amazon that's my next read

You just cost me £2.99!

Let's see which way book 3 swings the balance (for me he is currently standing at one good, one poor).

[Mr E]

Zumbruk said:

In later years his stuff got Too Long. Still OK, bit needs better editing. (Famous Author Syndrome, I guess.)

I frequently read doorstoppers and think “that needs an editor and two plot lines removed”

[xeny]

Zodiac is pretty good, and nice and short. The Baroque Cycle, I read the first one, but can't face starting the second.

[troc]

Snow crash is excellent. Zodiac also. The they get long and more work to read

[Narcisus]

5% into Cryptonomicon on the Kindle and I cant make head nor tail of it ! Do I need to stick at it a bit longer ?

[grumbledoak]

Narcisus said:

5% into Cryptonomicon on the Kindle and I cant make head nor tail of it ! Do I need to stick at it a bit longer ?

I am at 25% and it isn't much better. I just about maybe care what happens next to one of them.

[Narcisus]

grumbledoak said:

Narcisus said:

5% into Cryptonomicon on the Kindle and I cant make head nor tail of it ! Do I need to stick at it a bit longer ?

I am at 25% and it isn't much better. I just about maybe care what happens next to one of them.

Ahhh ! OK Then i'll scrub that one !

[Mr E]

I’d suggest giving the baroque cycle a miss then.

https://flic.kr/p/6vC8J9

Edited by Mr E on Monday 8th November 11:10

[Zumbruk]

grumbledoak said:

Narcisus said:

5% into Cryptonomicon on the Kindle and I cant make head nor tail of it ! Do I need to stick at it a bit longer ?

I am at 25% and it isn't much better. I just about maybe care what happens next to one of them.

I loved Cryptonomicon, even though it's a bit silly, but then I worked in IT my whole working life, and in IT security for the last 20-odd years.

[Narcisus]

Zumbruk said:

grumbledoak said:

Narcisus said:

5% into Cryptonomicon on the Kindle and I cant make head nor tail of it ! Do I need to stick at it a bit longer ?

I am at 25% and it isn't much better. I just about maybe care what happens next to one of them.

I loved Cryptonomicon, even though it's a bit silly, but then I worked in IT my whole working life, and in IT security for the last 20-odd years.

I've worked in IT for 25 years lol ! I might give it a bit longer then ...

[nebpor]

Snowcrash, Diamond Age, Zodiac, all brilliant

Cryptonomicon is important as it introduces characters that are seen in virtually every book hence!

[Halmyre]

Cryptonomicon was my first and it was one of those books I threw out to stop myself from reading it yet again.
Next was Seveneves, didn't like it as much but have just read it for a second time and enjoyed it a lot more.
Finished Anathem recently, found it a bit of a slog but will give it a second try at some point.
Contemplating a visit to Snow Crash next.

[Mr E]

Halmyre said:

Contemplating a visit to Snow Crash next.

Snow crash is a significantly more accessible book.
Listen to reason.

[xeny]

Mr E said:

Snow crash is a significantly more accessible book.
Listen to reason.

Accessible is an understatement. The first paragraph practically grabs you and drags you in.

I thing it is possibly the book with more cool in it than any other I have read.

[grumbledoak]

Zumbruk said:

I loved Cryptonomicon, even though it's a bit silly, but then I worked in IT my whole working life, and in IT security for the last 20-odd years.

So far I just think he thinks he is much cleverer than he is.