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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
- A nice view into the smoke and mirrors of a presidential election - got me to look with a new view to the ones currently going on.
- An interesting (and scary) technological premises used for evil. "We have fixed the problem of elections".
- Also a Tom Clancy like thriller. Including a big-ass conspiracy.
Consider me entertained.
Some reviews complained about the second part being boring or not up to par. If that is true, I failed to notice.
- An interesting (and scary) technological premises used for evil. "We have fixed the problem of elections".
- Also a Tom Clancy like thriller. Including a big-ass conspiracy.
Consider me entertained.
Some reviews complained about the second part being boring or not up to par. If that is true, I failed to notice.
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Here's my thought process when reading any Neal Stephenson book...
1. This is amazing! Stephenson is an absolute genius! The detailed and clever way he has of describing things is just so good. No one else can do that like he can. He might be my favorite author of all time.
2. This book continues to be incredibly interesting, clever, smart and unexpected. Loving it.
3. Uh oh.... coming up on the end of the book, bracing myself for the train wreck that is a Neal Stephenson ending.
4. And... a spectacular train wreck it was.
I don't know how it always happens, but the slowly, intricately crafted plot-line all of a sudden explodes into some sort of unbelievable giant gunfight where the timeline of the story speeds up by about 100 times, things happen for no reason whatsoever, and everything is just tied up quickly in the most ridiculous ways, preferably with some giant explosions. Throughout the rest of the book, every tiny thing that happens gets a long explanation, even when it has nothing to do with the advancement of the story, and I love that. At the end of the book, the most enormous plot developments happen with no explanation whatsoever. I always have to go back and see if I've accidentally skipped something because it's so abrupt and confusing.
Most of the book was great, though.
1. This is amazing! Stephenson is an absolute genius! The detailed and clever way he has of describing things is just so good. No one else can do that like he can. He might be my favorite author of all time.
2. This book continues to be incredibly interesting, clever, smart and unexpected. Loving it.
3. Uh oh.... coming up on the end of the book, bracing myself for the train wreck that is a Neal Stephenson ending.
4. And... a spectacular train wreck it was.
I don't know how it always happens, but the slowly, intricately crafted plot-line all of a sudden explodes into some sort of unbelievable giant gunfight where the timeline of the story speeds up by about 100 times, things happen for no reason whatsoever, and everything is just tied up quickly in the most ridiculous ways, preferably with some giant explosions. Throughout the rest of the book, every tiny thing that happens gets a long explanation, even when it has nothing to do with the advancement of the story, and I love that. At the end of the book, the most enormous plot developments happen with no explanation whatsoever. I always have to go back and see if I've accidentally skipped something because it's so abrupt and confusing.
Most of the book was great, though.
Enjoyed reading this story, found the adventures of Mary Catherine and Eleanor Richmond fascinating. Ogle's fate made me laugh. Quite an engaging cast of memorable characters.
The president has just announced that he wants to default on the nation's enormous debt, so a huge secret financial syndicate implants a brain control device in a presidential candidate to make sure he wins. Except trying to describe the plot of this book really doesn't do it justice, because it explores a lot of themes - the power of the media to interfere in politics, the power of money, the implications of technology that can work wonders to heal damaged brains... this is part political thriller, part sci-fi, and part satire. The characters are engaging and fun, the story is interesting and thought-provoking in a non-intellectually-taxing mind-candy sort of way, the writing is excellent. This is an all-around entertaining and fun book.
Good stuff--holds up surprisingly well after ~15 years. Especially appropriate now with the election.
However, I got halfway through and realized I'd already read it. I have no idea when.
However, I got halfway through and realized I'd already read it. I have no idea when.
I enjoyed this book, but it was wayyyy longer than it needed to be. The main plot on the back cover wasn’t super relevant until about 470 pages in, and after all that buildup the ending threw it all into disarray in the last like 30 pages. It wasn’t funny, as well, like the back claims. Still good, but could’ve been shorter.
Neal Stephenson does not disappoint. Even thought is is one of his first books the plot and character development are very well done. This is a very long book and I think the editing could have been a bit tighter. It could have been trimmed by a few hundred pages and been an even better book.
The story is about a fictional 1996 presidential election. Mysterious forces referred to as the Network have decided that leaving the selection of the president to the whims of the American public and the existing political parties is no longer a viable method of choosing the president. The network needs a method of ensuring they can elect whomever they want and then have complete control over the president (and government).
What I enjoyed most about the book was seeing how the technology that Stephenson saw as science fiction in 1995 is now almost common place and is certainly available, although not being used in the manner he imagined.
The story is about a fictional 1996 presidential election. Mysterious forces referred to as the Network have decided that leaving the selection of the president to the whims of the American public and the existing political parties is no longer a viable method of choosing the president. The network needs a method of ensuring they can elect whomever they want and then have complete control over the president (and government).
What I enjoyed most about the book was seeing how the technology that Stephenson saw as science fiction in 1995 is now almost common place and is certainly available, although not being used in the manner he imagined.