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shiv4's review against another edition
4.0
tl;dr Code breakers/hackers and gold hunters from WWII to today.
Well that was quite a ride. Spanning WWII to modern times, across dozens of characters and technical disciplines, this was quite the introduction to what I've been told is an author I'll appreciate ... if I can manage the length of his works. Thoroughly enjoyed this one.
Well that was quite a ride. Spanning WWII to modern times, across dozens of characters and technical disciplines, this was quite the introduction to what I've been told is an author I'll appreciate ... if I can manage the length of his works. Thoroughly enjoyed this one.
jazzlw's review against another edition
5.0
This was my second or third time through this book and I loved it just as much as the other times! A lot of great history and setting, with tons of local richness and detail. I love the way that Stephenson starts you off with many different stories in two different timelines, and then gradually over the course of the book you see how they all come together and are connected. Masterfully done from start to finish. The narration for the audiobook is also great.
in_between_pages's review against another edition
4.0
Wrestled with this book for 2 months, and I finally managed to put it down!
Neal Stephenson is a geek's geek, and that's what makes his books enjoyable to me. His digressions about Greek mythology or the Knapsack Problem, among others, are what make a long-winded book like this one quite entertaining. You just learn a lot reading a Stephenson book; and after 1000+ pages, you will most likely feel rewarded. Oh and, of course, there's Neal's sarcastic sense-of-humor which I'm really fond of!
Cryptonomicon isn't my first Stephenson mammoth. I've already enjoyed Anathem quite a lot and still hold it in high regard to this day. Cryptonomicon, on the other hand, was slightly less enjoyable (not too many big ideas here, I guess). It tackles topics such as cryptoanalysis, code-breaking in WWII, digital currency, entrepreneurship, Big Data, among others. These come together quite well (especially in the latter half of the book) but is still a thriller at the end of the day.
One thing I really liked in Cryptonomicon was the timeline set during the WWII period - one of my favorite historical periods when it comes to fiction. For me, it shed some new light on WWII from an angle that I knew little to nothing about.
All that being said, however, the book's length made keeping up with the timelines and the plot quite difficult in my case. I'm not sure whether it was my poor reading stamina, or whether it goes with the book's length and the writing style. And then there's the ending which was a bit of a letdown for a book this size - but I won't say much about here.
I would still recommend this book wholeheartedly for anyone interested, at all, in any of the topics I've mentioned.
4/5
Neal Stephenson is a geek's geek, and that's what makes his books enjoyable to me. His digressions about Greek mythology or the Knapsack Problem, among others, are what make a long-winded book like this one quite entertaining. You just learn a lot reading a Stephenson book; and after 1000+ pages, you will most likely feel rewarded. Oh and, of course, there's Neal's sarcastic sense-of-humor which I'm really fond of!
Cryptonomicon isn't my first Stephenson mammoth. I've already enjoyed Anathem quite a lot and still hold it in high regard to this day. Cryptonomicon, on the other hand, was slightly less enjoyable (not too many big ideas here, I guess). It tackles topics such as cryptoanalysis, code-breaking in WWII, digital currency, entrepreneurship, Big Data, among others. These come together quite well (especially in the latter half of the book) but is still a thriller at the end of the day.
One thing I really liked in Cryptonomicon was the timeline set during the WWII period - one of my favorite historical periods when it comes to fiction. For me, it shed some new light on WWII from an angle that I knew little to nothing about.
All that being said, however, the book's length made keeping up with the timelines and the plot quite difficult in my case. I'm not sure whether it was my poor reading stamina, or whether it goes with the book's length and the writing style. And then there's the ending which was a bit of a letdown for a book this size - but I won't say much about here.
I would still recommend this book wholeheartedly for anyone interested, at all, in any of the topics I've mentioned.
4/5
nerdsingerbeej's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.25
zincpotassium's review
2.0
Two and a half stars.
I think this is the last of his books that I will read. I actually like his writing style, and his descriptions of the cryptographic systems were good, but I am so damn tired of the xenophobia and edgy-flavored version of white male normative values that are woven through his narratives.
I think this is the last of his books that I will read. I actually like his writing style, and his descriptions of the cryptographic systems were good, but I am so damn tired of the xenophobia and edgy-flavored version of white male normative values that are woven through his narratives.
merrycait's review against another edition
funny
informative
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
slecar's review
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
17marypoppins's review against another edition
5.0
It was a fantastic read. A bit challenging for me in the beginning - trying to keep up with the two timelines as well as the multitude of technical ideas strewn so casually along the reader's path. I may study CS but I have long realized I am not a nerd. And so it is quite an achievement for a non-nerd to complete this book.
I am quite in awe of the author - he might as well be in the academia doing research. I loved every bit of the book except for a couple of digressions. Perhaps the author needed them - but to me they were unnecessary detours on my path to completing the book.
Now on to the Baroque Cycle.
I am quite in awe of the author - he might as well be in the academia doing research. I loved every bit of the book except for a couple of digressions. Perhaps the author needed them - but to me they were unnecessary detours on my path to completing the book.
Now on to the Baroque Cycle.