New Found Land may not be for everyone, but it's definitely for this comic nerd who loves Neal Stephenson and audio dramas.
In fact, the idea of fantaNew Found Land may not be for everyone, but it's definitely for this comic nerd who loves Neal Stephenson and audio dramas.
In fact, the idea of fantasy comic book universes being "real" in another reality and the stories we read here in the prime universe were transcribed all along, that's such a classic DC concept.
It's a lot of fun and irreverent, and paced well as an Audible original. There's two main universe actually: a retro scifi one with jetpacks, and also high fantasy. They converge in the normal world as the main characters get sucked into various plots and secret wars. All of this is very witty and just funny. Also rather thought-provoking.
I particularly enjoy the nerdy collector guy, and there's also the conspiracy-nut-trucker-podcaster who becomes the sort of wizard archetype. Speculative fiction versus magic, natural foils! There's the Stan Lee-inspired old New Yorker in the flashbacks who has so much charm. And don't get me wrong, it's not just a boy's club as there are many female characters crucial to the plot.
Anyway, the multiverse is certainly in the zeitgeist these days, and this adds well to this newly forming canon. I hope they continue the series and I will happily listen to more.
Perhaps one day, my own other self from the universe next door will possess me and trade places, and see if this kind of of thing is on to something... ...more
Neal Stephenson is still a genius, and there are always so very many interesting factoids one can learn from reading a tome like Termination Point.
HoNeal Stephenson is still a genius, and there are always so very many interesting factoids one can learn from reading a tome like Termination Point.
However, don't expect much of a plot in the conventional sense. This climate change speculative fiction has a lot of interesting things to say about the fall of America (although not as good as the first half of his previous book Fall), and of course the unique scientific take on how geo-engineering with a giant sulfur gun could be the answer to environmental disaster is a hell of a Big Idea premise. Then there's the global politics of it all, the somewhat coherent story of India going to war with Texas while China secretly manipulates, which happens to be from point of view of Netherlands royalty.
But besides whether or not one finds 700 pages of that a bit of a slug... Something feels off. Perhaps being too socially conscious these days prevents me from enjoying things, like I never minded the libertarian ethos of Cryptonomicon back in the day, but there's some awfully weird political subtext I currently can't seem to get over. It's a book about how fossil fuels have destroyed the planet, which is undeniable, and yet there are so many off lines about how it's the Greens who are the problem and won't let anyone make real progress. That the European far right going from climate denial to a pro-geoengineering stance overnight would be a good thing. And the moral of the story is basically to trust an oil billionaire to innovate out of this worldwide problem.
Don't get me wrong, it's fascinating. But it's been a long time since Stephenson wrote the excellent epic Anathem and the outstanding Americana satire Snow Crash. Perhaps he's best at tech thrillers now, not social critiques. I'm still ever curious to know any of his near-future predictions about the state of the country and the world, just can't say it quite works in this particular book....more
I consider myself a Stephenson aficionado, but perhaps I am not intelligent enough for the Baroque Cycle after all.
While I consider Cryptonomicon at I consider myself a Stephenson aficionado, but perhaps I am not intelligent enough for the Baroque Cycle after all.
While I consider Cryptonomicon at least my third-favorite of his tomes, this prequel to the saga does not work for me. Yes, one can learn quite a bit by reading about Daniel Waterhouse's conversations with Newton and Leibniz and even a young Benjamin Franklin, covering the Enlightenment period well. And the 'vagabond' sections with Jack Shaftoe's adventures, along with the impressive Eliza, are the more fun parts.
But overall, it can't be avoided how hard to follow this is. Generally, I find Neal Stephenson to be excellent at being a readable author who makes the most complex concepts interesting for a lay reader like myself. Yet, with this it does not work. This is not necessarily because of the thousand-plus page length. His science fiction world of scholars in Anathem is a far more successful attempt.
It was surely worth a try, and hopefully I do now have more of a sense of historical Europe and the natural sciences. What an effort it was, however.
So I suppose I shall not continue the trilogy, nor reread by way of audiobook any time soon......more
3.5 stars. A flawed, yet highly essential novel for the Neal Stephenson reader.
Interestingly, Fall or Dodge in Hell is basically a sequel to Reamde a3.5 stars. A flawed, yet highly essential novel for the Neal Stephenson reader.
Interestingly, Fall or Dodge in Hell is basically a sequel to Reamde and contains the fate of many of those characters over entire lifespans. It's also in the Cryptonomicon (and apparently Baroque Cycle) universe. Reamde was an excellent and fun romp but not quite as philosophical and into the BIG IDEAS. Fall, however, is very much into the BIG IDEAS.
This book gets deep into many themes that have pervaded the Stephenson mythos for decades: virtual reality, transhumanism--both pros and cons, religious symbolism in a techie context, and of course extremely deep dives into advanced role-playing games.
I found the beginnings of the story eminently fascinating. The near-future predictions of how dystopian it will get with fake news and social media echo chambers are downright eerie. You'll also learn a lot about neurology and quantum computing theory. Then, it's time to go in a somewhat different direction, as the whole online afterlife thing becomes the focus. Unfortunately, this is where it gets rather unreadable. Neal is quite talented at deconstructing the fantasy genre, but he's just not really good at actually telling those kinds of engaging narratives. Personally, the last third of the book lost me.
That said, there's certainly enough value in the rest of the novel to make it very much worth the price of admission. And frankly, Neal Stephensons never did have the best endings. That was never the point. If you want a standard protagonist character arc and three-act structure, go watch a movie. If you want a hell of a lot to think about, read a thick Neal Stephenson....more
What an epic. From the great Neal Stephenson, I’d expect no less.
However, Seveneves doesn’t quite measure up to the best of Stevenson. Although it is What an epic. From the great Neal Stephenson, I’d expect no less.
However, Seveneves doesn’t quite measure up to the best of Stevenson. Although it is nice to see the author fully embrace science fiction.
The first half, or rather two-thirds, of the book could be labelled as speculative fiction. At least, it’s all grounded in realistic science. A space opera of sorts, using the looming destruction of the earth to explore what it would actually be like if all the nations of the earth put forth their ultimate effort for sustainable living in space.
The science is fascinating, but for this reader the social implications more so. But the fact that seven billion people are going to die – the ultimate tragedy – is often understated. I get that Stephenson chooses to focus on the science, and in a way it is a positive and optimistic interpretation of this thought experiment, but I would have liked to see more emotional resonance. Well, there are enough movies about the average person experiencing the end of the world right? The important thing is that there will be survivors. In space.
I worry that the greatest flaw of the novel is that unfortunate choice of the medium: the novel. So many pages upon pages are devoted to detailed mechanical prose explaining how all the mechanics of space stations and robots and asteroid mining etc. all work. I wish I could say I was smart enough to always follow. While there are a few illustrations (though apparently my paperback edition has less than the hardcover) I would like to see a lot more visuals to explain everything. Perhaps if they make a movie, or better yet a TV series, I can one day enjoy a graphic adaptation so that my mind’s eyes will better see what it all looks like…
Some of the best aspects, more about the social worldview, are the characters who seem to be vaguely based off real-world personas. Look for doppelgangers of Neil deGrasse Tyson, Malala, and possibly Hillary Clinton. Though I shall say no spoilers, the politicians to not come across well. Can’t help but wonder how doomed we would be if the real-world president was in this book, but never mind that. Well if anyone can spot other nom de plumes please let me know, such as which tech billionaire specifically was that one character based on?
As optimistic speculation as it gets at times, conflict between humans is ever investable. The times get tougher and tougher until it reaches the point in which the title “Seven Eves” makes sense. Then the story jumps to the final third which is far more science fictiony.
There are readers who didn’t enjoy that part. And Stephenson isn’t always great at endings. I however love the world-building and the exploration of these seven new human races was original and amazing. Plus, learned a lot about epigenetics. For an 800+ word book that has too much exposition, the end went way too fast. One gets the feeling Stephenson’s heart wasn’t as in it by then.
I also wonder if 5000 years in the future was too far. Why not 1000 years? I suppose the science is the science, and that’s how long the “Hard Rain” would last. But the societal angle, how these seven races of humanity would evolve their own cultures and conflicts, that was an awful long time. More than recorded history.
In any case, Seveneves is thoroughly mind-boggling and thought-provoking in the best ways. I still want to meet Stephenson in person though and just ask him the biggest unanswered question: What was the agent! I understand that the point was what came after the agent, not the why, but I can’t help but wonder.
A good read. It’s no Anathem or anything. But even if not the best from this author, that does leave room for very very good....more
Early Neal Stephenson still worth reading for the completist. It's not postcyberpunk, it's not a hacker thriller, and it's not an historical drama aboEarly Neal Stephenson still worth reading for the completist. It's not postcyberpunk, it's not a hacker thriller, and it's not an historical drama about scientists either.
Zodiac is more based in the real world, about a hip environmentalist fighting corporate toxic waste in the mean streets (and seas) of Boston. Politically, it's very interesting to note that this is pretty much a leftist theme without any libertarian leanings. The main Stephensonism, however, is more about having a cool intellectual adventurer as protagonist, regardless of ideological leanings.
So activist Sangamon Taylor, based off the real-life Marco Kaltofen, basically works for Greenpeace and fights off the evil villains who are tampering with nature in the Boston harbor. The stakes get bigger and ever more exciting, although there is that typical abrupt Stephenson ending which may not be satisfying enough for all.
It's a relatively quick read, you can learn a lot about chemical compositions and such, and even with all the trademarked fascinating infodumps it goes by much faster than his latter 1000-page tomes. Topics range from why simpler molecules make for better drugs, to the finer intricacies of the Vietnamese restaurant scene. This is all quite funny, by the way. Enjoy!
Just make sure to level up to the better books if this one is your first... ...more
I really enjoyed this novel. Even read it a second time (that is, listened. To the 39-hour audiobook. Every minute was a blast)!
It's pure Neal StephenI really enjoyed this novel. Even read it a second time (that is, listened. To the 39-hour audiobook. Every minute was a blast)!
It's pure Neal Stephenson, even if it probably won't be anyone's favorite Neal Stephenson compared to other books. Interesting to compare T'Rain to the Metaverse in Snow Crash, although the modern MMORPG virtual reality isn't science fiction rather it's totally plausible. Interesting to compare the epic scope hacker stuff to Cryptonomicon, though it reads more up to date nowadays than the 1999 classic.
Although there are some issues with certain choices in the narrative -- and I hate to be accused of being politically correct but savvy readers will know what I mean. Choices about who gets to be the villains and who got to suddenly be the heroes. Even still, the international cast is great; all the information about Iowa and Canada and Russia and China and Taiwan and Eritrea and British Isles and Hungary and more. Very very global-minded.
I quite enjoyed the first half that focused on hackers and the tech industry and video games and the Russian Mafia. Being that it's Stephenson, that wasn't enough, and then it had to get into Islamic terrorism and intelligence agencies. Which upped the stakes, but the infodumps weren't quite as fun after that. Expect a lot of exposition, on economics and fantasy novel theory and gaming and so on, and oddly those are often the best reads of a good Stephenson tome.
In a way, the worst criticism might be the heavy use of coincidence that sets up the plotlines and characters. Somehow though, it totally works. In a crazy world where these coincidences happen, when R______ m______s go to X_____ and just *happen* to get in a firefight with I_____ t_______s. That's enough, no more spoilers.
Don't be intimidated by the dictionary-level size of Reamde, read on and have a blast!
But whatever you do, don't ever download any viruses called Reamde......more
One of the greatest science fiction (or speculative fiction) novels of the 21st century, and I mean it. Neal Stephenson's Anathem is both an epic thouOne of the greatest science fiction (or speculative fiction) novels of the 21st century, and I mean it. Neal Stephenson's Anathem is both an epic thought project, and surprisingly readable for a thousand-page novel with a whole glossary in the back.
The glossary puts people off, I know, but it's only tough at the beginning. After a few hundred pages you get used to all the Orth terminology and it flows just fine. The descriptions of theorics and takes on human consciousness and the many worlds interpretation on quantum physics, and various debates on nominalism, all in entertaining Socratic Dialogue.
On the planet Arbe, you see, the 'Saecular' world of the semi-literate who spend all their time on smartphones is segregated from the world of the literate educated. Basically, Stephenson has taken the line from some of his other novels, that geek is an ethnic group, and pushed it as far as that concept can possibly go...
In the mathic world, there are levels of educated monks. For thousands of years, the university system has been this way. There are the undergrads, who cut themselves off from society for one year at a time. There are the postgrads, who cannot interact with the rest society for ten years at a time. Then there are the doctorates, who can only leave their enclaves once every hundred years. Also, there are thousanders who are basically enlightened Buddhas. (And martial arts types monks too, and the Ita who are the techies of this world, and more. It's complicated.)
So don't be intimidated, and embrace the adventures of Fraa Erasmus and his friends as a mysterious threat comes to this other world and then this leads us all pondering the nature of reality. Makes for a very good read and many a level!...more
After so many years of rereads (this book now has the distinction of being the only audiobook I've so far listened to *twic*), it's still such an amazAfter so many years of rereads (this book now has the distinction of being the only audiobook I've so far listened to *twic*), it's still such an amazing ride. Hiro and YT versus Raven and L. Bob Rife in a tale of anarcho-capitalism and America as high-tech third world dystopia and much neurolinguistic hacking! Both hilarious and absolutely brilliant, there's few reads as good to me as the hyperactive cerebral mindfuck that is the legendary post-cyberpunk roller coaster of Snow Crash....more
What an incredible novel, and well worth a reread every few years! Pure Stephenson, after his satirical science fiction phase, with Cryptonomicon beinWhat an incredible novel, and well worth a reread every few years! Pure Stephenson, after his satirical science fiction phase, with Cryptonomicon being a bit more grounded in reality yet taking the hacker epic genre as far as it can go... And at the same time, a grand historical fiction yarn.
Techie treasure-hunting businessmen in the present overlapping with geeks during World War II inventing the digital computer, I mean how great is that?
However, as the rereads get further and further away from the 1999 setting the aging does start to show. By this I don't just mean the technology. Sure, for example, the video file thing is conspicuous and this is way before smartphones. And it's not necessarily the author's fault that the Philippines sadly didn't turn out as predicted. But that's not the point. If anything, for taking place in the 90s the novel is remarkably prescient on how important the internet has become in everyone's lives. What was new then, like email, is written matter-of-factly enough that much of the dialogue and storytelling fits in fine even after twenty years.
Unfortunately, and I hate to be the guy to say this but I simply must, it's the politics which have aged worst. There's a certain kind of faith in high-tech libertarianism, that young computer geniuses always know better than stuffy old bureaucrats, which comes across as very naive these days. Worst of all is the whole global 'second-amendment' moral of the story, the plan to give everyone in the world means to fight guerilla warfare because that would have stopped the holocaust or something, it seems like a terrible recipe for disaster today. (Like, Israel is mentioned in glowing terms at one point in the book, but if they really made the HEAP wouldn't Palestinians be one of the best examples of those who would use it to start an uprising?! The specifics are not explored at all, just the vague idealism, very libertarian.)
Moreover, Stephenson occasionally displays a sense of humor which goes for politically incorrect for the sake of being politically incorrect. Maybe it was cutting edge then, now it can come across as mean-spirited trolling. There's even a long conversation about which gods which civilisations worship, which is either a brilliant take cultural values or a borderline-racist oversimplification.
Uch, and the male-female dynamics. My top criticism of the book would have to be the focus on hacker everyman Randy Waterhouse, who overanalyzes everything and is the hero of the story despite not being that interesting, and his endlessly dragged on "relationship" with cool gal Amy Shaftoe. I get it, I really do, he's nerdy and takes a long time to build up the confidence to just ask her out... and then it's goes on and on all over the planet for hundreds and hundreds of pages because then Stephenson gets to share all his (sure at times quite fascinating) theories. But come on. With a bit more perspective, one realizes that Randy is kind of lame. The huge essays on male-female dynamics ultimately only amount to the main character's banal issues. There, I said it.
Okay I got my complaints out the way, and I still totally stand by my original 5-star rating because a hell of a lot of this book is still incredible! So many Big Ideas, so much to reflect on. The private digital currency part, wow, that may really go somewhere. (You obviously know what I'm talking about, right?)
And the World War II scenes are absolutely timeless, wouldn't change a thing. Which is roughly two-thirds of the book. The adventures of Lawrence Waterhouse and Bobby Shaftoe, so bloody cool. You'll come away knowing more than you ever thought you could about the Pacific War, military livelihood, spying, encryption, and war gold in Southeast Asia.
Everybody must read Cryptonomicon at least once, no matter the flaws, because it is awesome....more
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