A review by papapete24
Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson

4.0

Sprawling. Bold. Fascinating. Sweeping. Wasteful. Moving. Brutal. Really fascinating book that indulges at times more than necessary. It is brutal and moving in its depiction of WWII and characters. I started to sense a underlying current of nerd machismo that I find somewhat off putting. Other strains of anti-academe are notable and the book lacks well-rounded female characters in an odd way where most of the female characters are mentioned largely in conjunction with the erections they arouse in the alpha nerds. The crypto and overall discussion of thought, progress, and science are bold and different than almost anything I've read. Overall excellent read.
Edit: Sgt. Bobby Shaftoe is one of the greatest characters I have had the pleasure to experience in my lifetime. Enoch Root is a great character as well. Powerful stuff.