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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
Boy, has this book aged badly.
Its premise, "a group of shadowy rich men decide to run a third-party candidate to take over the US to ensure it pays its debt" is just so needlessly complex, when the reality of US history was that "a group of shadowy rich men bought themselves all of the Republican party and most of the Democratic party". It also ignores the immense power of tribalism and first-past-the-post electoral system combined with the electoral college (a "US presidential elections" book that ignores the Electoral College seems just plain naive in the 21st century).
As a cherry on the top it makes a throwaway reference to "post-greenhouse effect Illinois" being much warmer than in the childhood of one of the main characters, but the rest of the world remains unchanged by climate catastrophe.
(When I read it for the first time more than a decade ago I liked it so much more)
Its premise, "a group of shadowy rich men decide to run a third-party candidate to take over the US to ensure it pays its debt" is just so needlessly complex, when the reality of US history was that "a group of shadowy rich men bought themselves all of the Republican party and most of the Democratic party". It also ignores the immense power of tribalism and first-past-the-post electoral system combined with the electoral college (a "US presidential elections" book that ignores the Electoral College seems just plain naive in the 21st century).
As a cherry on the top it makes a throwaway reference to "post-greenhouse effect Illinois" being much warmer than in the childhood of one of the main characters, but the rest of the world remains unchanged by climate catastrophe.
(When I read it for the first time more than a decade ago I liked it so much more)
For me this was very hard work. Made worse by authors seeming very smug.
I really enjoyed this book.
Wish I'd finished it a few days BEFORE, not AFTER the presidential election.
Also: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/13/arts/television/13hoax.html
Wish I'd finished it a few days BEFORE, not AFTER the presidential election.
Also: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/13/arts/television/13hoax.html
A political thriller that meshes technology, politics and ethics
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
5.5 stars out of 10
Not bad, your typical Neal Stephenson. Very interesting story line and characters. Cool science interspersed with some humor. It went on just a touch too long for my taste, could have made a great novella.
Not bad, your typical Neal Stephenson. Very interesting story line and characters. Cool science interspersed with some humor. It went on just a touch too long for my taste, could have made a great novella.