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Originally Posted by brianko
Long-time Stephenson reader...Snow Crash definitely good, Anathem surprisingly good as well (it got off to a slow start, but was worth it once you stuck with it). Cryptonomicon was stellar. All three are good ones to start with. And for the true geeks here: In the Beginning was the Command Line. Mmm...Unix!
The Baroque Cycle was tough...System of the World was readable, but the last two books in the series I stuck with only so I could say I finished! I definitely wouldn't recommend this to first-time Stephenson readers.
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As much as I love Snow Crash, Cryptonomicon is probably my favorite of his books. I've read every book he's written, and just love his style of writing. He goes off on intelligent tangents that may or may not play a part in the story, but are interesting nonetheless.
I agree in some ways about the Baroque cycle, but it had Bobby Shaftoe in it for gods sake. The coolest marine/soldier/bastard ever
I loved Anathem. As you said, it started off slow. The first 1/3 of the book was essentially like learning a language, and I usually read fast. I ended up really working my way through the book because I was trying to absorb that first part of the book. Then the picked up and went in directions I can't even describe without blowing the plot for anyone.
Heck, his book "The Big U" reminded me of my college days. I was that guy with the big speakers in my room. Not literally, of course.