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Underground > Books, Criticism & Writing >

Quicksilver - SPOILERS

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16:15 / 20.12.04

I just recommended Neal Stephenson to a friend. I told her to start with Cryptonomicon, but now that I think of it, you could just as easily start with Quicksilver and end with Cryptonomicon.

Whatever he writes next, I hope it involves Waterhouses and Shaftoes (and Qwghlm!)

16:42 / 27.02.09

I've been debating tackling the Baroque Cycle for a few years, now. In fact a good while back I started Quicksilver but dumped it for other stuff. I never went back.

I've read all of Stephenson's other novels (even the Big U!), but over the years I've fallen out of love with his self-indulgent writing. Well, maybe that's not fair...for example, I really enjoy Lawrence Norfolk's work, and he's probably even more self-indulgent. But yet Norfolk I think is a better author. The thing with Stephenson is, I just can't handle the bald exposition via dialog, and though I enjoy big fat historical novels (Gary Jennings being the master of the genre), it seems to me that though Stephenson has a LOT to say, he doesn't have MUCH to say. I've always thought of him as the poor man's Pynchon.

So who can put in a vote or two for the Baroque Cycle? Worth it or not?

21:53 / 27.02.09

I really enjoyed the first two books, and the third one is entertaining as well (just a few points annoy me).

Quicksilver is a wonderfully complex, layered read. Plus, it's got pirates too which always helps.

19:48 / 02.03.09

I read about two hundred pages of Quicksilver before I set it down and never picked it up again. My problem, if I recall correctly, was a feeling of far too much "As you know, Jack..." But I also get the feeling it's a book I might like were it for a better, heavier editor. Seems as if it has an interesting core.

20:39 / 04.03.09

I read the complete Baroque Cycle and none of his other books. It´s a nice read, but can become tiring from time to time. And it´s more a bundle of fairy tales than historical. What some of the main protagonists survive, they wouldn´t if not for the fantasy aspect (sometimes they literally get resurrected).

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