A review by holly_keimig
The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. by Nicole Galland, Neal Stephenson

5.0

This book was so amazing. I don't know where to start. The premise is that magic has disappeared from the world and a top secret organization wants to bring it back for their own shady purposes. It is a story about time travel, the ethics of time travel, work relationships, insane bureaucracy, magic, physics, history, witches, and so much more. The story is told from several viewpoints and also includes internal memos, journal entries, and other reports. The format is not distracting, however, and it really adds to the core story. You are always trying to piece together what happened based on the information you are given. The story kept me guessing until the very end. I laughed out loud more times than I can count. The social commentary was subtle, but sharp, and the writing was so well done. I have not lost myself so thoroughly in a book world for a very long time. I know it sounds strange and it is a bit daunting at over 750 pages but it is worth every minute of your time. I am definitely planning on checking out other Stephenson books now. I highly recommend for fans of fantasy, science fiction, history, and anyone who has worked for the government in any capacity.