[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.