Anyone else here read Neal Stephenson?

[Steve Dallas]

Well, if you don't...you should.

He's one of the best authors writing today.

His new book has been announced to come out in September.

http://www.nealstephenson.com/reamde/

If you've never read one of his books, start with Snow Crash or Cryptonomicon.

[brandotron]

Hmmmm, this is the first I've heard of him. I'll have to check him out!

[Steve Dallas]

Originally Posted by brandotron

Hmmmm, this is the first I've heard of him. I'll have to check him out!

Brandotron...like I said, check out Snow Crash first.

I mean, how can you not like a book where the lead character is called Hiro Protagonist, delivers pizza, and is the greatest swordsman in the world.

Business Card:



Oh, and listen to Reason!

[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.

[ROBOSSRS]

This sounds like a thread for Ivas.

[Steve Dallas]

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.

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.

[Steve Dallas]

I'm just bumping this old thread because the book came out yesterday.

In the opening chapter, there was this gem...which only those that have read Snow Crash (written in 1992) will truly understand!!

"The opening screen of T'Rain was a frank rip-off of what you saw when you booted up Google Earth. Richard felt no guilt about this, since he had heard that Google Earth, in turn, was based on an idea from some old science-fiction novel."