okelle 's review for:

Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson

3.0

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I recently pulled this book out of storage and am contemplating re-reading it. Neal Stephenson has the rare ability to make certain kinds of information exciting and intriguing. Things like computers, technology, ancient history, the mechanics of space travel, and cryptography -- the sorts of topic that made me very sleepy in high school classrooms -- come alive when intertwined with the intricate plots and characters of his novels. This book takes a while to get into, but I remember it being worth the slog. Particularly memorable: Nazi gold, Van Eck phreaking, and Amy Shaftoe, a treasure hunter who may or may not be a lesbian -- but who clearly knows her way around an outboard motor.