READING TIME: NEAL STEPHENSON 4/5 "The Baroque Cycle"

part 4 of an absurdly long rant in honour of my all-time favourite nerd, Neal Stephenson, as the launch of his latest book draws nigh.

[@0xGEEK]

Stephenson / Enlightenment = Pynchon / Critique of Enlightenment. Both R great.

[@Topseeykretts]

Just finished Snow Crash. Holy shit! Is all I have to say. Thank you for putting me on. Very timely. Well, from here on out I doubt it ever won't be timely.

[@hugothepoet]

yes, depressingly prescient =/

[@justinstrong9595]

I absolutely am LOVING Neal Stephenson, he's a real genius among men!!

[@exin4]

Thank you for your delightful review. Great content.

[@DingDong-fq2mo]

I enjoyed Anathem much more than I anticipated. Perhaps you will, too.

[@Oenloveslife]

Oddly enough, I read the Baroque Cycle several years ago and enjoyed every word, but I STILL haven't read Cryptonomicon (I did start it, but for whatever reason, dropped it early on and still haven't picked it up yet), but I still plan to! After the Baroque Cycle, I read Reamde, then Seveneves, then Fall. I guess Cryptonomicon is next!

[@hugothepoet]

Then you are a test case I've been itching to one day speak to, though I was sure did not exist!! So, I take it you enjoyed the Baroque Cycle in spite of not having known about the descendents of the characters? I always thought it would be possible, but did wonder!

[@justinstrong9595]

Cryptonomicon is an incredibly hard and dry read as much as I love it. It is ROUGH.

[@TarpeianRock]

@@justinstrong9595I’ve read and reread Crypto several times, it’s a masterpiece.

[@seanpinal3709]

Is it really that imperative to read Crypto first? Also would love to see a video with your thoughts on anathem… that was my first Stephenson read

[@robertdiggins7578]

Would you read them all? I am better with audio and you've got a great reading style and appreciation. Got 5 years?

[@shawn6669]

Just read them...They're amazing. Take the plunge...it's absolutely worth it.

[@mrmr9420]

The audiobooks for NS are phenomenal Highly recommended it's how I did it due to my reading disabilities

[@shawn6669]

Ali Zaybak FTW!

[@hugothepoet]

Ha ha yes!! Nice

[@DanielGenis5000]

I can’t believe you haven’t read Anathem or Snowcrash. Both are classics in their context. Diamond Age is one of my favorites, while Reamde and Seveneves both felt weak to me. I didn’t finish the former and never bothered with Fall. Also, Stephenson has some terrible books. Ever read the Mongolian or Dodo or the Big U or Zodiac? Not brilliant at all. He’s kind of a mediocre writer but a brilliant thinker; I relish his ‘what if’s and am now being disappointed by Termination Shock

[@hugothepoet]

hey, homie, I have read both of those! many times. covered in earlier episodes ( I forget which precisely). As for the others, yes, Dodo, I did not enjoy, or Zodiac, and I haven't tried Big U. And I absolutely hated Fall! Yeah, mixed bag, I know. But the good stuff is mind-blowing. As for Termination Shock... I didn't hate it! Middle of the pack.

[@DanielGenis5000]

@@hugothepoet I will finish Termination shock, I will! I agree, it’s not horrible, just kind of meh. I just reached the killer foam in Holland. Oh boy.

[@hugothepoet]

@@DanielGenis5000 to be really honest, I think (classic Stephenson) the first half of Termination Shock is the better one. Enjoy(?) =)