Customer Reviews

Cryptonomicon

5 star:		(484)
4 star:		(224)
3 star:		(88)
2 star:		(45)
1 star:		(65)

 

 

Stephenson's writing style is unique: flippant, indulgent and fun. He doesn't mind pausing for 2 or even 5 pages to set up the perfect metaphor. You won't see a highly delinieated plot but a playful flow from scene to scene through the book. I found the characters interesting, the story worthwhile, and the writing amazing.

I love it whole heartedly, but I'm a Computer Scientist. I understand the programs, the math, and the cryptography which comes up from time to time. People totally unfamiliar with it will find these sections boring, possibly pompous. I think you can skip over these without losing the story.

Even though the writing style is usually light-hearted, Stephenson does tackle big topics. A major focus is on the role of money in a society. He also looks at anticipation being more enjoyable than the actual event, especially in relationships.

If you're a hacker - buy it without thought. If you're not a hacker - stop by a brick-and-mortar store, read a few pages, and, if you like what you see, take a chance. Truly, I can't think of a book I enjoyed more. Besides, if you read it you'll find out what the phrase "the most cigarettes" means. :)

Neal Stephenson's latest book, Cryptonomicon, will appeal to a wider fan base that his previous novels. Having read all of Stephenson's previous novels (with the exception of the elusive The Big U) I was surprised to find this book lacking in ultra-futuristic technology, and presented as more of a straight war story/business suspense novel. As usual, Stephenson's character development and prose is amazing, and if you work in high-tech or mathematics you will instantly realize how well Stephenson knows the personalities of these people. As with Snow Crash, the book takes a while to get up to speed, but once it does you'll find yourself not wanting to put it down. As other reviewers have mentioned, there are many potentionally confusing plot twists, so the reader must pay close attention at times or risk getting lost. Stephenson also gives a thorough grounding in the mathematics of cryptography, although the pages of formulas and explanations can thankfully be skimmed by the mathematically-challenged (like myself) without losing the story. The book also doesn't fall apart towards the end as many thought Snow Crash did - in fact, at one point you will smack your forehead when you realize how everything fits together, and you can't wait to see how it ends. Overall, an excellent read.

Going in to CRYPTONOMICON, I had absolutely no idea what to expect. I'd never read anything by Neal Stephenson, nor had I read any blurbs or reviews of the book. However, it had appeared on enough "Best Book" lists that I decided to give it a try. And boy am I glad I did.

This novel is fun, huge, funny, rambling, witty, and sprawling. It is clever, engaging, and well-paced. It is full of quirky, eccentric, immensely likeable characters, crazy, interesting ideas, and amusing, often hilarious, looks at various situations including, but not limited to, mathematics, life, how to eat Cap'n Crunch properly, the purpose of beards, and well, just about anything else you can think of. Obviously, then, this book is not for everyone. Those who like tight, meticulously pared-down straightforward stories may not be able to get into this one.

For me, though, as you may have guessed from the title of the review, this book was an absolute joy to read. The books chapters cycled between four main characters, and every time I finished a chapter I found myself in an awkward position: I didn't want to go on, because I wanted to keep reading about the character I'd been following. However, by the end of the first paragraph of the next chapter, I'd be feeling the same way about the next character in the cycle. It was an odd feeling, and a tribute to the skill with which Stephenson created these characters that each of them was so completely engaging.

In addition to the main characters, the settings and situations were vivid and well-drawn. Despite this books immensity and its tendency to ramble at length about inanity, it never got boring, and always retained its charm. Stephenson provides us with a very amusing outlook on life.

However, this book is not without flaws, the two biggest of which have been noted in previous reviews:

1) Women. There are no really well-developed female characters. Most of the women have virtually no "screen time" at all, and the one who does have quite a bit of time is not fully realized as a character. It would have been very helpful to have gotten inside her head once in a while.

2) The ending. This book kind of just ends, without resolving properly. It feels like it just cuts off, and that was kind of unsatisfactory. Randy's story deserved at least another chapter or an epilogue of some sort to tie-up the plot. Alas, Stephenson, at the end, couldn't deliver.

So, as I've said, this book is delightfully readable, and if not for the sudden ending, would easily have garnered a 5/5 rating. I'm definitely looking forward to the next CRYPTONOMICON book (which, if I'm not mistaken, is intended to stand alone; it will not be a sequel, per se).

Just finished the book - and while reading it, I recommended it to many others because I was enjoying it so much. I kept telling people "I'm reading the coolest book - you have to read it, too!" Very well written. Moves at an incredible pace, the dialogue is believable, and of course the excursions into math, cryptology, engineering, computers, eating Captain Crunch so it doesn't lacerate the roof of your mouth, and all those incredible observations about society/culture/whatever-is-in-front-of-them that only engineers and sceintists can make are the icing on what would be an incredibly well-written tale even without all that stuff.

What makes the book so excellent, though, is the believable story and the believable characters. I found that I liked all of them because they were so real - I even cared about the bad guys. Still want them to lose, of course, but as a *reader*, I cared about them, and that's what keeps driving a reader on through a story.

It's certainly a book that requires some commitment - it is very long, but I tell you, after hitting page 800, I was depressed, knowing that I had only another 110 pages of this joyful reading ahead of me. How many books have done that to you lately? In the last ten years? I read hundreds of books each year, most of them I can bring myself to enjoy even if they aren't great literature, but it is rare that I am so much enjoying a book that I begin to question if I should slow down, just so I can savor the enjoyment longer - and I did that a lot with this book.

Stephenson has a way with words that will leave you breathless and in awe at his skill at writing. His metaphors are brilliant, sometimes hilarious. His so-true-to-daily-life descriptions had me laughing out loud on the subway and in the laundromat. And if you are an engineer or scientist, you will get all the added benefit of the "inside" jokes, descriptions, observations, etc. I am stupified by Stephenson's genius at pulling this thing off. If only more writers could be as sharp.

While this is not the kind of social commentary/critique that great art generally is, it will, I think, leave the reader a different person than when s/he began the book. I know it has affected me on some levels - not greatly, in the way that 1984 or Moby Dick does - but the reader is left (if they've been paying attention) viewing the world a little differently.

Lastly, if you've ever hung out with engineers or scientists, and gotten mad/confused at them for their seemingly cold/analytical way of looking at the world, this book is a great resource for coming to understand why they think that way, and what it means to them. I have recommended this book to a couple people simply so that, perhaps, they will have a better understanding of why I do and say the things I do (I am an engineer/scientist by training). For so realistically showing the thought processes, and motivations, of the science-inclined, I applaud Stephenson. For writing a book that is an awful lot of fun to read, I appaud him, too. Truly one of the best books in my library.

Cryptonomicon's compelling mix of history (World War II), developing and current technology, real and imaginary characters, and cryptography made for a very enjoyable read. Though packed with science and technology the text is always accessible to the neophyte as well as the more technically inclined. (From both a historical and cryptographic standpoint it helps if you have also read Simon Singh's excellent The Code Book.)

At over nine-hundred pages the length may deter some who are normally prone to tackle lesser efforts, but it is a worthwhile read and you will not get bored as the narrative ping-pongs back and forth between time and perspective. If you happen to have a copy in hand, and are undecided, read the brief chapter "Yamamoto" beginning on page 334, and you will be hooked.

Shortcomings were few. One was the author's endless use of analogies, which tend to become tedious until you learn to ignore the quantity and judge them solely on their cleverness. Many work well, some do not. On a couple of occasions the use of coincidence can be overwhelming, and may challenge the suspension of disbelief. I would like to give an example or two, but by doing so may jeopardize some of the narrative. You will recognize them when they occur.

Finally, for a book that develops carefully and paces itself to match that approach, the ending comes too suddenly and quickly. Readers may find themselves puzzled at the quick and dirty wrap-up. It is as though the author needs to get this to his publisher NOW! and submits to the impulse.

On the plus side the story stays coherent and mysterious throughout and humor is used to great effect. This book is thoroughly recommended and will make for a good beach read.

I admit it. I'm a geek. Always have been, always will be. I make most of my living convincing computers to transform radar signals into graphs and plots useful for aeronomers. This book was one of my favorite novels of all time.

I bought my brother-in-law (he used to paint his own D&D figures, that gives him a solid geek pedigree) a copy for his birthday. Three days later he called me to voice obscenities: "You @%$#! That's the best book I've ever read and I can't put it down ... but it's 900 PAGES!!!"

I enjoy Stephenson's style. He dances between story lines, weaving a tale of espionage, counter-espionage, information-age hi jinks, and a lost fortune. He paints pictures that a non-visual person (like myself) can =SEE=, but without breaking the action. Frequently the story suggests, then moves on, allowing the reader to fill in the obvious.

Four stars for an interesting plot. Five stars for inventing the proto-cyberpunk genre. Five stars for a graceful dance between story lines, images, and suggestion. Altogether a pleasant experience. Don't miss it if you're a geek. If you're not already a geek, it's worth becoming one just to appreciate this book!

(If you'd like to respond to this review, please click on the "about me" link above and drop me an email. Thanks!)

The beauty of Stephenson's work has always been the depth of research into the subject, and this is no different. Although Cryptonomicon is not sci-fi, i think it will still have enough technical jargon to keep the cyberfiends interested, with story flashing from a modern day information storage company to second world war ancestors of these characters. The second world war stories are based loosely about code breaking (funnily enough), the effect that it had on the outcome, and also, the lengths that were gone to to hide the fact that codes had been broken. Stories of different characters merge and split with gay abandon, leaving you wondering who will meet up with who next, or who's relative will emerge in the present day story. To be brief, it is a joy to read. Technical data on code breaking which could have started to bog the book down, becomes as easy as 'pooning a cab in Stephenson's agile hands. Don't get me wrong, it is a different read to his past stuff, but with the promise of more books in the series (not sequels, just more people with a connection to crypto) it may be the brink of a new style. If you can get your hands on the hardback copy you will see that the attention to detail does not even stop in the narrative, with pages cut to different sizes in order to artificially age the book. Great story, beautiful book, fantastic author.

Have you ever hated yourself for finishing a book? For a long, long month, I resisted my own desire and my wife's urgings to drop the book. I should have listened. The book badly needs editing, the characters are shallow, and the author's (very) high opinion of himself stains the pages. There are two crypto-analytic themes to this book: World War II codebreaking and the struggles of a modern day cryptographic computer company to turn profitable. By page 500 (of the 910), I had no idea how they related; by page 700, I had an inkling but no longer cared. I only finished because I felt some undefined need to do so.
I would guess that by the time Stephenson wrote this book, he had enough critical and financial success that he was able to demand no restraints from his publisher. Consequently, the writing meanders and much of it is irrelevant. Stephenson dedicates three pages to description when three paragraphs (and sometimes only three sentences) will do. Worse yet, many of these wanderings are completely unrelated to the story, such as discussions of Captain Crunch and wisdom teeth. By page 300, the reader can see when these airy insignificances arise, and to continue, he or she must painfully wade through them.
Most of the characters in the book share the exact same personality: gruff and cynical. The exceptions are academics, who are portrayed as wimps with no grasp on reality, and East Asians, who all have a personality similar to the characters from Shogun. Otherwise, a World War II Marine shares the same personality as a modern day billionaire-investor who shares the same personality as a modern day entrepreneur. An example of the same-flavor feel of Stephenson's characters: One character (Enoch Root) was an Army Priest during World War II and dedicated himself to peaceful causes afterwards. By the time one of the modern characters encounters Root, in a jail cell in the Phillippines, Root (who must be at least in his mid-eighties) has been running a Church in the Phillippines for a number of years. Nevertheless, Root describes the goddess Athena as a virgin who was "leg-f***ked [] once but did not achieve penetration." This same character uses the word "dissed," just like any modern fifteen year old boy. Character development, needless to say, is non-existent in this book.
On the plus side, Stephenson has encyclopedic knowledge and an expansive vocabulary. Even this becomes a turn-off, however: Stephenson's writing reflects a man who thinks of himself as intellectually beyond the realm of mere mortals. Perhaps he is different in real life, but he comes across as the geek in high school who justified his social-ineptitude by the fact that he got great grades (especially in math!). That same geek who got great grades lost many arguments because he lacked intellectual and logical skills outside of "book learnin'."
Stephenson is like that: For example, he ticks off a long list of German and American technological advances during World War II, but then concludes that the Allies won because America stood for technological advance while Germany stood for mindless warfare. In another story line, Stephenson's modern day protagonists set out to create a data bank near the Phillippines that is protected by the most advanced cryptography in existence. These protagonists are some of the most brilliant computer code-writers and cryptographers in the world, and they are attempting to set up a company which hides information so well that even governments cannot access it. These same brilliant people are shocked to discover that criminals are keenly interested in the project. Again, Stephenson has incredible knowledge but weak logical skills.
Why give the book two stars instead of one? There are some redeeming aspects of the book: I liked the aspects of cryptography and analysis, a subject to which I have never paid much attention. Any book that I can learn from cannot be all bad.

What the hell! What's up with all this WWII and Internet business? Cryptology? Sounds interesting...but where's the metaverse? skull guns? Or grunge chicks on flying skateboards? This is exactly how I felt when I read reviews about Cryptonomicon. So it was with some trepidation that I picked it up and over the course of a month, was literally blown away!

At a 1000 pages this is no easy commitment, but after reading it in it's entirety, you'll be glad that Neal had taken the time(and extra pages) to carefully flesh it out. The attention to detail is painstaking while his knowledge of the various local cultures is acute. There's been plenty of criticism over the lengthy prose and true, he does get carried away at times(do we really need a graphical analysis of Waterhouse's libido?) but not so much as to lose the reader completely. Depending on who you are, you'll find it all extremely banal or utterly insightful, maybe even hilarious. I found myself laughing out on several occasions. There are many more comedic moments than his previous works and this is due to the fact that I could relate much better to Randy, Shaftoe and the rest than I could with Hiro. Other than the odd throwaway character, the characters in Cryptonomicon are like people I know, which serves to deepen my appreciation of what's happening to them.

The plot itself is well constructed and interesting. Though a bit dubious at times, it does manage to sustain you to the end. This is Neal at his sardonic best; at times making me want to scream "Yeahhhhh! That was way cool". His technical know-how is par excellence as usual, taken with his writing style, gives an immensely pleasurable read and enough brain food for non-techies/techies alike. However, the legal and business scenarios are not quite convincing and could have done with a bit more working through.

Whereas his previous books used sci-fi and technology to ease readers into viruses and epistomology, here he uses crypto and technology to talk about conspiracies. So although the formula may be the same, he does, however, show more restraint and does not fly off into what-the-hell tangents and subplots as much. Ultimately, his technological/conceptual ramblings, though many, do not overwhelm and in the end fit nicely into the story for a tighter, more focused thoughtful piece of work. No doubt the subject material may not go down well with fans of his old books, but I am glad that the author once again manages to challenge and provoke.

In 1942, the US Navy assigns Captain Lawrence Pritchard Waterhouse to Detachment 2702 in Bletchley Park, England, home of the Allies cryptography team. The Axis' codes have been previously broken. Thus, the job of this top-secret team is to keep the Nazis in the dark that the Allies know the deepest military secrets of Germany and Japan and use the information to maximize the war effort. Heading up the effort is US Marine Bobby Shaftoe.

In the present time, Lawrence's grandson Randy Waterhouse has inherited the family's brilliant math gene. Using computers, he, like his grandfather is a cryptographic expert. Working in Southeast Asia, Randy is developing an encrypted massive data warehouse to keep out corporate and government spies. Randy works with Bobby's granddaughter Amy. However, as the present ties back to the past, everyone wants to either steal or shut down the efforts of Randy and Amy.

The mind-boggling CRYPTONOMICON shows why Neal Stephenson is both a New York Times best selling author and a cult hero. The story line is actually two major plots that fully tie together in spite of the fifty plus years' difference. The characters feel genuine and the audience will root for Randy to best his opponents. However, this opus belongs to cryptography, which takes on an identity of its own. Although the depth of detail might turn off some readers, as at times it becomes difficult for those of us who think math is a second language to fully understand the coding provided by Mr. Stephenson, the fabulous novel remains fast-paced and exciting. Readers will devour the tale, codes and all. Set aside several days and enjoy the best cryptographic-based tale since Poe's Gold Bug introduced the concept to literature.

Harriet Klausner