[taude]

Did everyone like this Stephensen in this thread? I read Cryptonomicon and Seveneves, mostly. They slogged for me a bit. But I love what he writes about, so willing to try another one (even if he doesn't have an editor). It sounds like this could be topical 2027 read. I have a long summer ahead of me.

[michaelt]

Stephenson's writing is great if you like lengthy asides that add to the world and to your understanding of the characters, but add nothing to the plot.

If you want to read six pages of detailed musings on how the character learned ballroom dance and their design for a special milk-dispensing spoon for eating cereal without it getting soggy, establishing the character is the kind of person who designs spoons in their mind as they eat breakfast, then Stephenson is for you.

If you want the character to get to the damn ball and get told the secret coordinates so we can get moving with the plot already, Stephenson might not be for you.

[dalyons]

I agree except for REAMDE that was very fast paced and barely explained

[Tarq0n]

REAMDE's description of MMO economics is farcically bad. It undermines the whole book.

[nixon_why69]

REAMDE read like he got way too carried away with a side trip action beat and accidentally made it the whole book. Fun read.

[Avicebron]

I actually think Snow Crash is iconic for what it was conceptually, I don't know how I would actually stack the writing up now that I've gotten older and would probably pick something else.

I can see it feeling tropey now despite being an originator of many of the tropes. It's been a decade(s)+? since I read it last though, still highly recommend.

[scantron4]

Give Fall: Dodge In Hell a try. It has a few characters from Reamde but nothing to do with it so you don't need to read that one. Its an amazing idea about realistically what building the singularity could look like. Starting with one digitized mind.

[taude]

Thanks. I've added

[eunoia]

Big fan of Snow Crash. For background I liked Cryptonomicon a lot but also found Seveneves to be a bit of a slog.

I would check out The Diamond Age as well if you’re generally taking Stephenson book recommendations.

[antod]

I much preferred Diamond Age to Snow Crash. It's been a while though, so can't fully remember why - but I think Snow Crash tried to be too cute or something and kinda seemed disjointed.

[PeterStuer]

I loved Cryptonomicon and most of his early work. I didn't care too much for his Baroque Cycle.