[davidgould]

Stephenson has done some great things, but dude needs an editor badly. I'm afraid success has scared off anyone who can tell him when to stop.

Fall, had some interesting and vivid passages, but the whole "Dodge wakes up in a simulation with a brain injury" bit, and really the rest of the book from there to the end could have been cut. That would leave us with a much better 350 page novel about the near future instead of yet another Stephenson -- much longer than the original! -- attempt at retelling the Book of Genesis.

[vbsteven]

I liked Fall actually, but I can imagine pure sci-fi readers being put off by the second part. It’s a 2-for-1 situation which brings together sci-fi and fantasy elements in interesting ways. But you’ll have to enjoy reading both genres or else it will be a slog.

As with all fiction books, my usual advice is to read it for pleasure, and put it aside if you don’t like it or it doesn’t live up to expectations. You don’t have to finish a book just because you started it.

[davidgould]

What sort of person do you imagine will find your "usual advice" necessary or helpful?