Customer Reviews

The Cobweb

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As with "Interface," the question here is, how much is this like Neal Stephenson?

There are occasional touches of Stephenson, but on the whole, "The Cobweb" is much less like Stephenson's work than "Interface" was. Although there are some nerdy characters -- a Stephenson staple -- there is much less emphasis on science than in his own works, or even "Interface." That is, unless you count political science.

In that regard, "The Cobweb" seems more like the fiction of Ross Thomas and his political thrillers than Neal Stephenson's works.

On its own, "The Cobweb" is a fine read. It is essentially a revisionist tale of the Gulf War. While the book begins in early 1990 before the war, and ends in February 1991, before the end of the war, the war takes on tremendous significance. What if Iraqi terrorists were creating biological weapons at U.S. universities? On the whole, this is a more successful revision of history than "American Hero" (the basis for "Wag the Dog") was.

Don't let the pen name fool you. Bury is really crack sf writer Neal Stephenson and his uncle writing together. They have crafted an incredible thriller here. The book focuses on a small town in Iowa and how it and its' inhabitants play a crucial role in Desert Storm. It seems that Eastern Iowa State may conceal a biological weapons factory for Saddam Hussein. Deputy sherrif Clyde Banks begins to discover this as his wife is called up in the Army reserves. He becomes entwined with the CIA, FBI, foreign graduate students/spies/freedom fighters and more.

The narrative builds momentum until every page DEMANDS to be turned. I decided to read a few pages before bed and now I'm looking at the sunrise.

This book unfolds in typical Neal Stephenson style, with alternating chapters about seemingly unrelated characters whose lives increasingly interact with each other in unexpected ways. In this book, the characters are immensely likeable (to this reviewer, anyway) and their actions and feelings ring true--details that are funny and heart-warming, never too-clever or superfluous. Unlike the typical Neal Stephenson style, however, the book does NOT start out strong and progressively get weaker. Rather, the plot unfolds steadily and in a most pleasing manner from start to finish. Even if the underlying premise is a bit tough to swallow, there are no annoying holes in the plot. This reviewer has read all of Neal Stephenson's books, and considers this book and "Snow Crash" his two best.

You're not likely to find a Stephenson fan out there who's more willing to praise his work. And as for Bury, well, all I can say is that this collaboration is 1 for 2. Everything that Interface is/was, The Cobweb is not. I was barely able to finish it, and I'm sorry I did. It's not so much that it's horribly bad...not at all...it's merely adequate, which comes as a shock based on the fact that *everything* else he's written has been flat-out superlative.

While this novel does not live up to the wild inventiveness and wacky humor that characterizes Stephenson's SF work, it is, in my opinion, still an above average thriller. The plot is compelling, the characters are fun, and the treatment of the various agencies and their motivations and bureaucratic techniques is nuanced (possibly based on Jewsbury's experience?).

Recommended for a pleasant long distance plane trip.

the cobweb is thought-provoking and clever. the detailed plot twists often made me smile. the characters are offbeat and likable. there is plenty of insight on politics (local, national, and world), biotech, and basic police work. above all, the cobweb is fun to read.

This novel is full of biting satire, of academia, small midwestern towns, and government. As an academic, I guffah'ed repeatedly at the wry descriptions of university politics and corruption! As after reading other books by Neil Stephenson, I desperately hope he branches into screenplays - the imagery in this novel is equally exquisitly detailed and creative!

This book is funny, suspenseful, and full of fun observations on modern life. It will be particularly fun if you ever worked in Washington, DC, if you were ever into wrestling, or if you are from Iowa. But, even if these don't fit - you'll still enjoy it.

I did not know Neil Stephenson wrote Cobweb under the "Bury" name. (Just finished his "Cryptonomicon": great book but too long). The Cobweb is a frightening peak at the production of bioweapons of mass destruction, made of course in America, and sold to, you guessed it, Iraq. The scenario/plot is realistic enough but the dialog and characters often seem rather contrived and formulaic. If you have nothing else to read, this book is it. At least you'll learn what "cobwebbing" is. IF you have another book that's better, read it instead.

I've read, so far, everything Neal Stephenson's written except the Baroque Cycle (I'm saving that for summer), and I can say that yeah, this isn't his best. He definitely wrote it, there are some things nobody can duplicate, no matter how well they know his work, but I have a feeling this has been a baby of his for a long time, something he wrote waaay before Zodiac and The Big U etc., and he's just gotten it published recently, but was too blind to see how it could have been edited and made better, stronger. I've been looking for it for a long time, so I had pretty darn high expectations for it (*especially* after Interface, *especially* since I could never find it anywhere for under $10), and it was a bit of a letdown. It should have gone a bit deeper. It could have been wittier. This book went real far, but fell just short of the unimaginable wonder that is your average, everyday Neal Stephenson Novel. I look forward to the Baroque Cycle, though, even though I hear it'll take me forever to get through. Aren't there like 6 books now...?