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emeraldletter's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty good. It started out really strong, but I was a bit disappointed by the ending.
Walmart Vikings though, WALMART Vikings!!!!
That chapter pretty much made my day.
It was a stand-alone, but the ending really didn't make it seem like that.
Walmart Vikings though, WALMART Vikings!!!!
That chapter pretty much made my day.
It was a stand-alone, but the ending really didn't make it seem like that.
heyoitsmax's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
sagenguyen's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
karinlib's review against another edition
4.0
Government funded time-travel story that is really imaginative. I am not going to give a synopsis, because that has already been done. Neal Stephenson and Nicole Galland have created this wonderful story filled with magic, history, technology and humor. At times I felt the story dragged, but overall the book was a good one.
shadow1ane's review
Tedious. Characters were flat and just never clicked with me. Plus, I don't like having the same thing thrown at me repeatedly. I got it the first time; the 5th time it's like being bonked in the head with a mallet.
hectaizani's review against another edition
5.0
I LOVE Neal Stephenson. Cryptonomicon is one of my all-time favorite books ever.
Magic once existed in the world. But technology took its place. Bad luck for all the witches that relied on magic. Except a nearly forgotten scientist came up with an invention that can make a little pocket of magical space. Now all they need is a witch, and less government intervention.
My favorite character - Magnus
Magic once existed in the world. But technology took its place. Bad luck for all the witches that relied on magic. Except a nearly forgotten scientist came up with an invention that can make a little pocket of magical space. Now all they need is a witch, and less government intervention.
My favorite character - Magnus
Spoiler
and the Viking invasion of Wal-Mart.gmakstutis's review against another edition
4.0
While this is not one Stephenson's greatest books, it does take a rather tired trope (time travel) and bring a new layer and interest to it. It is also refreshing to read something by Stephenson that is not so lengthy that the book weighs more than a small child.
I've never found Stephenson's characters (with the possible exception of some in the Baroque Cycle) to be that convincing or interesting. It may be that Nicole Galland has brought new depth to the characters and their relationships, which is one of the more interesting features of this book. The characters, here, are never truly good or evil. Our heroes have foibles and weaknesses. The villains are never operating on some over-inflated idea of world domination. The government is mired in bureaucracy and magic is relatively mundane.
The narrative structure of the book is also refreshing. With characters in different timelines (or even different 'strands' of the multiverse), we see different points of view through different lenses of time. The use of letters, diaries and digital messaging, provide clever ways of revealing internal action, within the narrative, without having to undertake the normal 'exposition dump'; which can often be found in time travel stories.
As with most of Stephenson's work, the plot is twisted and based on some interesting science-based ideas. The relationship between magic/witchcraft and the 'multiverse' is an interesting take on both time travel and the vagaries/oddities/anomalies of quantum physics.
While, perhaps, not among the highlights of Stephenson's oeuvre, I found this to be a joyful reading experience and really makes me hope that this collaboration will continue to result in interesting and fun stories for us.
I've never found Stephenson's characters (with the possible exception of some in the Baroque Cycle) to be that convincing or interesting. It may be that Nicole Galland has brought new depth to the characters and their relationships, which is one of the more interesting features of this book. The characters, here, are never truly good or evil. Our heroes have foibles and weaknesses. The villains are never operating on some over-inflated idea of world domination. The government is mired in bureaucracy and magic is relatively mundane.
The narrative structure of the book is also refreshing. With characters in different timelines (or even different 'strands' of the multiverse), we see different points of view through different lenses of time. The use of letters, diaries and digital messaging, provide clever ways of revealing internal action, within the narrative, without having to undertake the normal 'exposition dump'; which can often be found in time travel stories.
As with most of Stephenson's work, the plot is twisted and based on some interesting science-based ideas. The relationship between magic/witchcraft and the 'multiverse' is an interesting take on both time travel and the vagaries/oddities/anomalies of quantum physics.
While, perhaps, not among the highlights of Stephenson's oeuvre, I found this to be a joyful reading experience and really makes me hope that this collaboration will continue to result in interesting and fun stories for us.
glowylemur's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
nebelkrahe's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ginny17's review against another edition
4.0
The only other Neal Stephenson book I have read is Seveneves, and I LOVED that book. This is absolutely nothing like Seveneves, other than I suppose they are both science fiction. While Seveneves is very serious and scientific, this book is laugh-out-loud funny in many parts, yet still filled with a lot of scientific things (though not nearly as technically challenging). It is pretty long but goes by very quickly. I thought the ending was great and also sets it up as a series, which would be fabulous.