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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
I refuse to consider this novel about magic and quantum physics a Stephenson novel. It almost feels like an anti-Anathem book. Maybe I will come back to it when I'm in the mood for some humorous science-fiction, but for the time being I want to read some real Neal Stephenson books, like the Baroque Cycle.
Magic.
Science.
Imagination.
Stephenson.
What else is there to say? Excellent!
Science.
Imagination.
Stephenson.
What else is there to say? Excellent!
Entertaining at first but quickly became evident that, like every other Stephenson book I've read, it could have been half as long. So bloated it felt never ending
Way too long, not a lot happened... I was rather bored.
The epitome of fun - odd, slightly shoddy premise, science and witches, and such a variety of narrative delivery mechanisms (journals, slack chats, letters, etc) - engaging and enjoyable! Just too long
Interesting ideas, but much like his last novel, it feels like he ran out of ideas and just ended it. It just suddenly comes to a halt in a very unsatisfying manner.
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m not sure how to rate this. I really enjoyed the first 3rd. Found the middle 3rd a bit tedious and the last 3rd good but doesn’t complete the story.. wouldn’t read again but thinking about getting the sequel to finish the story.
Wow -- how can 768 pages go by so quickly? I was lucky enough to grab this off the "new" shelf at a library where I was doing a reading, so got hold of it only a day after publication. It has all the hallmarks of Neal Stephenson-- tons of research, a fully imagined world in which magic once existed and now can exist again, within very strict circumstances. And like in Crytonomicron, there's money at the heart of the book-- or at least somewhere near the heart.
The main characters are fully realized though because of its scope there are an awful lot of lesser characters who don't get the same level of development. A wide variety of narrative voices and styles, some of which I liked better than others.
The good news is that by the end it's clear there has to be at least one more book!
The main characters are fully realized though because of its scope there are an awful lot of lesser characters who don't get the same level of development. A wide variety of narrative voices and styles, some of which I liked better than others.
The good news is that by the end it's clear there has to be at least one more book!
Really enjoyed this. Lots of fun and alphabet soup. great characters and really well put together I have the sequel and I'm hoping it lives up to it's predecessor.