Any Neil Stephenson fans? (Snowcrash, Cryptonomicon, etc)

Lotuspetal · 03-25-2005, 02:42 PM

Just curious if anyone else out there has read him and what they think of his most recent series?

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phat32 · 03-25-2005, 02:48 PM

Right here. I loved Snow Crash, of course, but I thought Diamond Age was an unlucky sophomore effort. Cryptonomicon was okaaay, but I'm having a hard time getting into the Baroque Cycle.

astrogirl_2100 · 04-24-2005, 02:16 PM

Me too! Snowcrash and Cryptonomicon are classics. But my favorite is "In the beginning was the command line". It it always nice to read something that expresses your own thoughts and opinions in a clear way.

phat32 · 04-24-2005, 09:27 PM

If you would like to read an excerpt of "In the Beginning was the Command Line" and download--legally, for free--the entire article, click on this link: http://www.cryptonomicon.com/beginning.html

This link (http://www.killfile.org/~tskirvin/neal/) includes links to various Stephenson articles (stories, articles, information on the author).

SnowflakeGirl · 04-25-2005, 04:08 AM

Thanks for those links, Phat, I will check most definitely check them out.

I have been reading Cryptonomicon over the past few months, and it is excellent. As much as I am enjoying it, I do find myself having to take "breaks" from it, not so much because of its length (DFW's Infinite Jest, also over 1000 pages, I devoured in a few days) but because it is just packed to the gills with such highly technical detail, that I get information overload.

I will definitely read Snow Crash and the Diamond Age later on, having had several people whose tastes I trust implicitly recommend them to me.

phat32 · 04-25-2005, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnowflakeGirl

I have been reading Cryptonomicon...I do find myself having to take "breaks" from it...because it is just packed to the gills with such highly technical detail, that I get information overload.

I know exaaactly what you're talking about. I may be IT, so the modern IT stuff I understood--for the most part--and the history of IT stuff was interesting to me

, but even some of that was lost on me.

Quote:

I will definitely read Snow Crash and the Diamond Age later on, having had several people whose tastes I trust implicitly recommend them to me.

Snow Crash is my all-time favorite novel.

In fact, I have a funny Snow Crash story. (How many people can say that?)

I was at Chik-fil-A last week, picking up dinner, when I spotted another diner reading a book with a familiar cover. When he walked by me, I said, "Hey, dude, if you like Snow Crash, try Cryptonomicon."

He was so excited that to talk to another Stephenson fan, he almost spilled his drool cup.

DagnyTaggart · 04-25-2005, 01:48 PM

I loved Snowcrash, and I thought Cryptonomicon was a fast read and very good - but the Baroque Cycle has lost me. I read the first one, and the second one sits here in my desk drawer at work, unread. I just have no desire to read it after forcing myself through the first one under the mistaken belief that it would have to get better. I had so much faith in Stephenson after SC and Crypto that I thought I would love anything he wrote. The same disappointment just struck me this weekend as I tried to get into David Foster Wallace's newish book of short stories. I'll try it again - maybe I was just too distracted - but they seemed borderline unreadable. And this is from the man who wrote the book that was my Bible when I first read it - sheesh - almost 10 years ago.

03-25-2005, 02:42 PM	#1
Lotuspetal FORT Newbie Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 5	Any Neil Stephenson fans? (Snowcrash, Cryptonomicon, etc) Just curious if anyone else out there has read him and what they think of his most recent series?

03-25-2005, 02:48 PM	#2
phat32 Countin' Words Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Drinking another gallon of coffee Posts: 2,285	Right here. I loved Snow Crash, of course, but I thought Diamond Age was an unlucky sophomore effort. Cryptonomicon was okaaay, but I'm having a hard time getting into the Baroque Cycle. __________________ "'Oh, I say, poor show…. These chaps are in fact allowed to use their hands, are they not? Because you certainly could not tell by watching them.'" - The Onion on the Buccaneers' 35-7 loss to the Patriots at London's Wembley Stadium

04-24-2005, 09:27 PM	#4
phat32 Countin' Words Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Drinking another gallon of coffee Posts: 2,285	If you would like to read an excerpt of "In the Beginning was the Command Line" and download--legally, for free--the entire article, click on this link: http://www.cryptonomicon.com/beginning.html This link (http://www.killfile.org/~tskirvin/neal/) includes links to various Stephenson articles (stories, articles, information on the author). __________________ "'Oh, I say, poor show…. These chaps are in fact allowed to use their hands, are they not? Because you certainly could not tell by watching them.'" - The Onion on the Buccaneers' 35-7 loss to the Patriots at London's Wembley Stadium

04-25-2005, 04:08 AM	#5
SnowflakeGirl Picture Perfect Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: In the Limelight Posts: 7,348	Thanks for those links, Phat, I will check most definitely check them out. I have been reading Cryptonomicon over the past few months, and it is excellent. As much as I am enjoying it, I do find myself having to take "breaks" from it, not so much because of its length (DFW's Infinite Jest, also over 1000 pages, I devoured in a few days) but because it is just packed to the gills with such highly technical detail, that I get information overload. I will definitely read Snow Crash and the Diamond Age later on, having had several people whose tastes I trust implicitly recommend them to me. __________________ *Sending good vibes and warm fuzzies your way..., SnowflakeGirl* All New AMERICA'S TOP MODEL Recaps! Premiere Pt. 1 & Pt. 2, Ep. 3, Ep. 4, Dinah's Dynamite Ep. 5, Ep. 6, Ep. 7, Ep. 8, Ep. 9, Ep. 10, Ep. 11, Finale Relive every beautiful moment of America's Next Top Model...Click here for links to prior season recaps & interviews.

04-24-2005, 02:16 PM	#3
astrogirl_2100 FORT scientist Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Nivå, Denmark Age: 36 Posts: 1,237	Me too! Snowcrash and Cryptonomicon are classics. But my favorite is "In the beginning was the command line". It it always nice to read something that expresses your own thoughts and opinions in a clear way.

04-25-2005, 01:48 PM	#7
DagnyTaggart FORT Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 479	I loved Snowcrash, and I thought Cryptonomicon was a fast read and very good - but the Baroque Cycle has lost me. I read the first one, and the second one sits here in my desk drawer at work, unread. I just have no desire to read it after forcing myself through the first one under the mistaken belief that it would have to get better. I had so much faith in Stephenson after SC and Crypto that I thought I would love anything he wrote. The same disappointment just struck me this weekend as I tried to get into David Foster Wallace's newish book of short stories. I'll try it again - maybe I was just too distracted - but they seemed borderline unreadable. And this is from the man who wrote the book that was my Bible when I first read it - sheesh - almost 10 years ago.