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afranchilli's review against another edition
5.0
When a book defies all genres, it's hard to grade it by comparing it to other books you have read. Cryptonomicon doesn't have much of a structure to wrap your head around, but it's so packed with great set pieces, interesting characters, hilarious dialogue, and shrewd observations, that the loosely sketched plot does not seriously detract from the book as a whole.
In the end, it's narrative is the story of why and how cryptology is important, historically and prospectively. But what keeps the book afloat are the story lines that center around the thrill of entrepreneurship, adaptability in the face of adversity, and the "mathematicizing" of life.
The criticisms I have read are not all off the mark. For one: it is inconsistent at times. There are intermittent lags where the level of detail is simply not necessary. On the other hand, some deviations from the plot are among the most memorable sections - the explanation of various cultures' treatment of geeks as a reflection of their religion stands out for me, but lets not forget about the various disquisitions on topics like cap'n crunch cereal or staple removers.
Another complaint is the ending. And again I would have to refer to the fact that this is a unique work. I was not disappointed when I finished it, and because I enjoyed his writing so much during the journey, I didn't feel let down by the finished product.
It's not a perfect book, but it still gets 5 stars because I am hard pressed to find a book I enjoyed more.
In the end, it's narrative is the story of why and how cryptology is important, historically and prospectively. But what keeps the book afloat are the story lines that center around the thrill of entrepreneurship, adaptability in the face of adversity, and the "mathematicizing" of life.
The criticisms I have read are not all off the mark. For one: it is inconsistent at times. There are intermittent lags where the level of detail is simply not necessary. On the other hand, some deviations from the plot are among the most memorable sections - the explanation of various cultures' treatment of geeks as a reflection of their religion stands out for me, but lets not forget about the various disquisitions on topics like cap'n crunch cereal or staple removers.
Another complaint is the ending. And again I would have to refer to the fact that this is a unique work. I was not disappointed when I finished it, and because I enjoyed his writing so much during the journey, I didn't feel let down by the finished product.
It's not a perfect book, but it still gets 5 stars because I am hard pressed to find a book I enjoyed more.
duparker's review against another edition
3.0
3.5. For the hey and bulk of this book, it is a pretty easy read. Don't get me wrong, there is some complexity and the occasional convolution, but overall as you're waiting through this book, you're enjoying it. The material is interesting, the code breaking is fun and the overall story, while not original, per say, is well written and plotted.
in_variant's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
paulmcinnis's review against another edition
Cannot stand the modern timeline story, really really boring. The other timelines are great.
richardiporter's review against another edition
4.0
This is a fun (and sometimes challenging) book. A fast paced and sprawling story that unites across time space, computing, intelligence, the good and the worst of humanity. An entertaining and fast paced speculative history.
It mixes major separate but related storylines set in WWII following a USMC Raider, a USN Cryptology officer at the frontier of the invention of computers, a Japanese Army Lieutenant laboring to survive Pacific combat and hide Japanese Gold and how these diverse people interact.
In the early 2000's direct descendants of the same characters from WWII work to establish a scrappy startup to get enhanced broadband internet service to the Philippines. OR maybe its to establish a secure encrypted backup data vault. And a Crpytocurrency. Backed By Gold. Maybe the hidden gold from WWII? All to prevent future genocides and atrocities.
4 Star reviews mean I enjoyed this book, I may read it again. I would recommend it to many people and it likely changed my mind about something important.
It mixes major separate but related storylines set in WWII following a USMC Raider, a USN Cryptology officer at the frontier of the invention of computers, a Japanese Army Lieutenant laboring to survive Pacific combat and hide Japanese Gold and how these diverse people interact.
In the early 2000's direct descendants of the same characters from WWII work to establish a scrappy startup to get enhanced broadband internet service to the Philippines. OR maybe its to establish a secure encrypted backup data vault. And a Crpytocurrency. Backed By Gold. Maybe the hidden gold from WWII? All to prevent future genocides and atrocities.
4 Star reviews mean I enjoyed this book, I may read it again. I would recommend it to many people and it likely changed my mind about something important.
jason_ell's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
frasersimons's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
This is probably the most successful book I’ve read by Stephenson, but it still falls into the category of, well, technically you’ve written a novel territory. As a maxamilist effort, the thematic depth and range one wants from such a thing is not present. As usual, the character work dips into casual phobias, with the narrator somehow always attempting to be neutral but completely biased towards the characters’ thinking, and this dissonance distancing myself as the reader from any real suspension of disbelief.
If the goal is to show how the terrible milieu is the engine and catalyst both, for progress… it somewhat comes together, in the end. I think it could have been easily achieved, much more elegantly in hundreds of pages (easily) left off. Stephenson is fairly adroit at communicating more complex science and maths to a reader. But after reading something like, say, When We Cease To Understand the World, the comparison makes this feel like a very commercial work, and not a literary one. It doesn’t make it bad. It does make it less engaging, memorable, or impressive. In fact, that book communicates what this one does, much more to boot, and was an impactful, tremendous read.
I had this on my list only because it’s listed as cyberpunk (which it is not even remotely), and I’ve got an ongoing project to read that sub genre. This does feature cryptology and computers and various systems, but boy is it not punk, nor are the characters, even remotely. It has no hallmarks of the regular run or the post era, so I really don’t get that classification. I still own the sequel, Reamde, however. I wonder if that is and these get lumped in together, or something.
Regardless, this is more of the same from Stephenson, I think. If you already like him and you’re alright with his… quirks, I guess - you’ll probably like this, too. If, like me, you’ve never been impressed and actively disliked Snow Crash, I would advise you to move along, move along.
If the goal is to show how the terrible milieu is the engine and catalyst both, for progress… it somewhat comes together, in the end. I think it could have been easily achieved, much more elegantly in hundreds of pages (easily) left off. Stephenson is fairly adroit at communicating more complex science and maths to a reader. But after reading something like, say, When We Cease To Understand the World, the comparison makes this feel like a very commercial work, and not a literary one. It doesn’t make it bad. It does make it less engaging, memorable, or impressive. In fact, that book communicates what this one does, much more to boot, and was an impactful, tremendous read.
I had this on my list only because it’s listed as cyberpunk (which it is not even remotely), and I’ve got an ongoing project to read that sub genre. This does feature cryptology and computers and various systems, but boy is it not punk, nor are the characters, even remotely. It has no hallmarks of the regular run or the post era, so I really don’t get that classification. I still own the sequel, Reamde, however. I wonder if that is and these get lumped in together, or something.
Regardless, this is more of the same from Stephenson, I think. If you already like him and you’re alright with his… quirks, I guess - you’ll probably like this, too. If, like me, you’ve never been impressed and actively disliked Snow Crash, I would advise you to move along, move along.
ameserole's review against another edition
4.0
Another big book devoured.
Cryptonomicon was a lot to devour and understand. When it comes to big books, I tend to lose focus and get easily confused. Okay, that happens for any size book if I'm being honest here. So, I tried really hard to digest everything before I reached the very last page.
A lot of what happened throughout this was entertaining. Yet, at the same time, confusing because I felt like we were randomly being dumped so much information and then jumping into something else. Maybe it was supposed to be chaotic or that's just how I ended up feeling. My mind definitely hurt towards the end of the book and yet, I still enjoyed the heck out of this. I think it's because of all chaotic feelings.
Other than that, the characters themselves were pretty interesting. Some were easy to follow while others seemed a bit more mysterious to me. The bantering and funny moments kept the pages turning (at least for me). Will definitely have to try another one of Neal's books before the year is over.
Cryptonomicon was a lot to devour and understand. When it comes to big books, I tend to lose focus and get easily confused. Okay, that happens for any size book if I'm being honest here. So, I tried really hard to digest everything before I reached the very last page.
A lot of what happened throughout this was entertaining. Yet, at the same time, confusing because I felt like we were randomly being dumped so much information and then jumping into something else. Maybe it was supposed to be chaotic or that's just how I ended up feeling. My mind definitely hurt towards the end of the book and yet, I still enjoyed the heck out of this. I think it's because of all chaotic feelings.
Other than that, the characters themselves were pretty interesting. Some were easy to follow while others seemed a bit more mysterious to me. The bantering and funny moments kept the pages turning (at least for me). Will definitely have to try another one of Neal's books before the year is over.
elsie_n's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0