Seveneves by Neal Stephenson | Spoiler Free Book Review

[@EmpressNoriko]

Great review! I read this book shortly after it came out so my memories of the details are sparse. I will say it’s one I definitely think about when I read something similar. Especially after hearing your considerations, I want to reread it. I very much enjoyed it when I read it. One note about the underground survivors. Glass blowing isn’t that hard or high tech. I have almost all the equipment in my garage. I’d imagine the threaded metal ring to screw it in plus the wiring would be harder. Plus the metals for the filaments. But yes, if you only had what panicked survivors took with them to survive off of and probably limited natural resources, the chances of maintaining a civilization for thousands of years would be slim. You’d probably end up eating algae or lichen and grubs rather than lettuce, tomatoes and chicken.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks and yeah...that was the type of perspective I was looking for. Makes sense re glassblowing. I was thinking the amount of heat needed and the exhaust and then the more intricate work at the finishing stages...but I can see from your comment how that might work early on...and yeah, 4,000 down the line....still not sure

[@js5183]

The first part of the book was great and i loved it. although the 2nd part seemed like it was 2 books worth of lore and story smashed into a single segment and was weaker for it. still a good read but that transition from part 1 to 2 could have been better.

[@FIT2BREAD]

I can see what you mean...my only hiccup was transitioning into the future storyline, because I didn't see it coming

[@everrit]

I loved the entire book, it's great to hear your views, l generally can suspended disbelief quiet well, so talking birds aren't a problem, there is one in Iain M Banks's Excision. The paperback edition of Seveneves that I have has art work of the Eye, Cleft and Ring. Another 50 pages or so at the end would have helped. Seveneves is also the first Stephenson that I read and was so amazed at his work I read a bunch more, Anathem is my other standout title.

[@SciFiScavenger]

This is on my top 10 (along with anathem), I loved it!!! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Total agree with you on Anathem as well

[@tahliae]

I really liked this one! It’s one of my regular re-reads! The audiobook is quite good, too!

[@FIT2BREAD]

Glad u liked it. I'll definitely re read it at some point

[@crazediamond]

great review! i really enjoyed the book overall, but part 3 was my least favorite. it could be down to my lack of imagination as a scientist. i did get a kick out of the neil degrasse tyson stand in's story arc. that seemed more believable to me than the 3rd part of the book.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Yeah. I agree, but I did like going for that wild ride in the 3rd act...I loved the ideas but wish it was better described...at least the Eye, the tether and the shuttles

[@secretsauceofstorycraft]

Loved some of the spacecraft backgrounds!! So glad u had a good time with this!

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks for nudging me into it a bit

[@hdood]

I have this on the shelf, but the size is daunting so I never tried to read it. I’ve trusted your reviews in the past and the comparison to Weir’s book makes me think I should finally pull it down and dust it off! I’m reading Kindred right now, and flying through it- great book!

[@FIT2BREAD]

Awesome. Love Kindred. Don't let the size of this one put you off. It's definitely a page turner

[@jonathankirkendall1306]

I had to skip the spoiler section because I'm not done yet, but man I'm glad you recommended this! It is definitely scratching the same itch that The Martian scratched and I am hooked!

[@FIT2BREAD]

Awesome I'm glad u are liking it

[@dalejones4322]

Great review. I'll be reading this one soon. The song at the end was excellent. That singer can sing anything.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks and I'll pass that on!

[@SoulsJourney]

This sounds like a great read. Definitely putting this on the TBR pile. Tuning out at the spoiler section, thanks for the warning!

[@FIT2BREAD]

I think this one is a definite safe bet and sure to please

[@SciFiScavenger]

I thought the diggers survival story was more plausible (or less implausible) than the submarine guys. Also rather too convenient that two parties connected to two of the main characters survived. Still, I went with it, i really enjoyed the last third of the book. I've read seveneves several times. Top sci fi tainment. Great and v thorough review!

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thanks. And yeah, whatever disbelief I felt...it didn't stop me from going with it and enjoying the ride

[@epone3488]

Act 3 was my favorite. I found act one and and two very dark - I mean really mordantly dark; it really effected me and I put the book down for about a month. I'm so glad I got through it to the third act ; I loved everything about the space opera it turned into (I thank the included picture of the future cleft/sky-hook for pulling me back into the book). I do feel like the two parts are very disjointed (acts 1-2 very cohesive act 3 a totally different thing (thankfully) which was much more to my liking). I think act2 is the poorest part of the story both in the prose, style, structure, pacing and scientifically as well especially the joint revelations of the last seven and Moira .... I really hope he revisits the trans-human setting again! It was more of the science-FICTION I enjoyed as opposed to the very grim and emotional previous parts which was more a disaster novel and left a pretty sour impression for me personally. Overall the pay off was (just) worth it; although I could have just picked up the last part as a self-contained book/story set after the hard-rain, Ymir and the skulduggery of intrigue. I would have preferred all of that prequel information mentioned in a stand alone act-3 'novel' like the clone wars was in 'A New Hope'...

[@wordfullyyours]

The MacGyver In Space part caught my interest lol

[@FIT2BREAD]

Ha...there is that occasional vibe

[@wordfullyyours]

@@FIT2BREAD it sounds like a good book. I loved Hail Mary that you compared it to. I might check it out. 😊 (Even though it's huge lol)

[@FIT2BREAD]

@@wordfullyyours it reads fast for a large book

[@wordfullyyours]

@@FIT2BREAD Cool. So did Hail Mary. I couldn't wait it finish it.

[@TimothyCollins]

This sounds interesting. I'm usually kinda slow to pick up a Stephenson book - loved snow crash, hated the diamond age... so he's one of those authors that can ho either way with me. But this sounds like it might hit my science fiction target.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Give this one a shot. I thinknit will go well

[@RidleyJones]

And here I thought your Beatles sendup would be "Here Comes the Moon" :P

[@FIT2BREAD]

Ha good one. Have you read Ursula LeGuin's Lathe of Heaven? If you have you should easily guess which Beatles song I'm using for that one :)

[@RidleyJones]

@@FIT2BREAD I have! But for some reason that guess isn't nearly as clear as this one was

[@warrenford]

Half way through seveneves so will watch your review when finished

[@FIT2BREAD]

Thank Warren. How are you liking it?

[@thekeywitness]

This is on my TBR but I’m thinking of reading The Diamond Age first since it’s been on my TBR longer. Ever read it?

[@FIT2BREAD]

I love the Diamond Age. I ranked it very high when I did the Top 210 Books video. I think going in either order is fine, and I'd stick with Diamond Age since u already have it in the works so to speak

[@Tom-B4848]

as I was reading this I was thinking that Nolan would make a good movie adaptation

[@FIT2BREAD]

Yeah I could see that for sure

[@ThirdEyeAwake]

I wish more trilogies were 800 page books like Seveneves!

[@FIT2BREAD]

Yeah I think I agree

[@FrankOdonnell-ej3hd]

I passed on this one afraid I DID let myself be deterred by the massive length sounds like stephenson threw in everything but the kitchen sink like melville in moby dick but it might make a good tv series on one of those streaming services amazon netflix etc but still glad u enjoyed it day in the life is one of my fav my beatles songs recall talking to the late george martin on the radio explaining exactly how they created the sound at the very end that goes on FOREVER and EVER⚛😀

[@FIT2BREAD]

Very cool frank

[@olliverklozov2789]

It's a CRIME to waste your songwriting talent on a book review channel.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Oh but I love it! And...thanks? :)

[@teemuruotsalainen1852]

…guess I have to start this! A great review! 🫵🏻

[@FIT2BREAD]

Just be sure to tell me after how it went for u!

[@teemuruotsalainen1852]

If I remember right, President Obama had this on one of his annual book recommendations lists.