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mcmanifold's review against another edition
funny
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A very funny book, and surprisingly accurate on the technical side. The pacing was absolutely atrocious, but chapter to chapter was entertaining enough to keep me enjoying the book. The lack of forward momentum in the plot however prevented it from truly gripping me.
besiktas's review
2.0
interesting ideas and topics and diatribes but overall too long and not a very compelling story. also all his books have such mediocre endings, it feels like the actual writing is a complete afterthought to the ideas in the book
katieinca's review
4.0
I was a teeny bit bored the first few pages, then LOVED the next several hundred, then thought the end was kind of ... meh. So, great book, but the last hundred pages or so seemed kind of muddled compared to the amazingness of the rest.
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
It takes about 200 pages to really get into the plot, but when you do ... WOW!
There's a lot of math involved, but the math-challenged reader can skim those parts and still enjoy this book. I think fans of Wilbur Smith would like it.
There's a lot of math involved, but the math-challenged reader can skim those parts and still enjoy this book. I think fans of Wilbur Smith would like it.
malenfant's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
wetomb's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
edriessen's review against another edition
5.0
A very entertaining read about encryption in both WWII and the early internet days. Easier to get into than some of Stephenson’s other novels. Lots of fun characters. My favourite passage: Randy being stuck behind a truck filled with swines. Good stuff.
mikeledford's review
5.0
Snow Crash was the first novel I read by Stephenson, so I was afraid of being disappointed by anything else. Cryptonomicon does not disappoint. [b:Snow Crash|40651883|Snow Crash|Neal Stephenson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1530057753s/40651883.jpg|493634]
I never thought I'd get into historical fiction, but I found myself looking up references throughout the story thinking "there's no way this actually happened" but more often than not, it's steeped in historical fact. I love it.
The characters are well rounded and flawed, which is refreshing after reading a few Murakami books in which the protagonist projects nothing but false modesty and borderline uncomfortable macho chauvinism. [b:Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World|10374|Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World|Haruki Murakami|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1399844477s/10374.jpg|2531870] Stephenson's character writing is top notch, and three dimensional.
I found myself looking up some of the $2 words sprinkled about, some words I've never heard before but were used well in context. I never felt like he was writing down to me, or worse, dumbing it down for a wider audience.
The only issue I ran into is the same issue that plagues any sci-fi writer; technology anachronisms. When viewed in context of the time it was written, the technology is on par. But some parts didn't age well when describing computer programs and operating systems. Kinda like watching 50's sci-fi movie tech. It's not world-breaking, but it does take me out of the story in a few places.
Counter to this, Stephenson essentially predicted the rise of cryptocurrency and the need for decentralized money. The book way written 10 years before Bitcoin became a thing.
All in all, if you like a good adventure/mystery wrapped up in a bit of nerdy cryptology, dive right in. Don't let the page count deter you; it's a quick read and there aren't any lulls to speak of.
I never thought I'd get into historical fiction, but I found myself looking up references throughout the story thinking "there's no way this actually happened" but more often than not, it's steeped in historical fact. I love it.
The characters are well rounded and flawed, which is refreshing after reading a few Murakami books in which the protagonist projects nothing but false modesty and borderline uncomfortable macho chauvinism. [b:Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World|10374|Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World|Haruki Murakami|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1399844477s/10374.jpg|2531870] Stephenson's character writing is top notch, and three dimensional.
I found myself looking up some of the $2 words sprinkled about, some words I've never heard before but were used well in context. I never felt like he was writing down to me, or worse, dumbing it down for a wider audience.
The only issue I ran into is the same issue that plagues any sci-fi writer; technology anachronisms. When viewed in context of the time it was written, the technology is on par. But some parts didn't age well when describing computer programs and operating systems. Kinda like watching 50's sci-fi movie tech. It's not world-breaking, but it does take me out of the story in a few places.
Counter to this, Stephenson essentially predicted the rise of cryptocurrency and the need for decentralized money. The book way written 10 years before Bitcoin became a thing.
All in all, if you like a good adventure/mystery wrapped up in a bit of nerdy cryptology, dive right in. Don't let the page count deter you; it's a quick read and there aren't any lulls to speak of.