Neal Stephenson

[Coragem]

I've been looking into his stuff, and I'm a little scared. It seems daunting. Can anyone reassure me?

I look books with very strong characters, which the reader will come to care for. Also, amid whatever trials the characters face, I do like a sense of honour and heroism. An optimistic view of human nature and relationships, if you like.

My favourite authors include (for example) Gay Gavriel Kay, George RR, and David Gemmell.

I do very much like philosophy, and stimulating ideas, but I don't like it when the ideas come before the characters. So, if you understand me, I'd rather read "fiction science" than "science fiction"!

Would I like Neal Stephenson?

Coragem

 

[thatollie]

Would I like Neal Stephenson?

Coragem

I'm going to say, "Yes!"

Despite the heaviness of Anathem, I really came to care about the characters. I think they really did have a sense of honour and heroism. Eventually, I came to the conclusion that this book was a masterpiece.

 

[Behni]

I picked up Snow Crash for Audible for a trip I just had to make. Three hours there and three hours back I didn't stop the book once. When Hiro starts getting into the linguistics discussion with the Librarian I was enthralled. Only halfway through, but I have it on my eReader as well so I can continue it when I'm not driving

That's the first Stephenson book I have tried, and I did get it on the advice of this message board.

 

[thatollie]

You know, I don't think Gollum's gotten around to reading Anathem yet.

 

[elvet]

I've been looking into his stuff, and I'm a little scared. It seems daunting. Can anyone reassure me?

I look books with very strong characters, which the reader will come to care for. Also, amid whatever trials the characters face, I do like a sense of honour and heroism. An optimistic view of human nature and relationships, if you like.

My favourite authors include (for example) Gay Gavriel Kay, George RR, and David Gemmell.

I do very much like philosophy, and stimulating ideas, but I don't like it when the ideas come before the characters. So, if you understand me, I'd rather read "fiction science" than "science fiction"!

Would I like Neal Stephenson?

Coragem

I haven't read Gemmel, but your other 2 authors are in my top five Fantasy writers. I loved the Barogue Cycle so much, I have since read most of his other books, even the SF. Anathem is another favorite, as his latest book REAMDE.

 

[GOLLUM]

You know, I don't think Gollum's gotten around to reading Anathem yet.

Yeh I know..no need to rub it in though....

I also have a copy of README looking down upon me from the shelves as I type this, a more recent mega tome I still need to get through.

Moat recently they've released Book 1 from the collaborative online project with Greg Bear and co. converted into book form entitled Mongoliad. I'm not sure if I'm going to get that particular item but a heads up anyway for those Stephenson fans amongst you...

 

[Vertigo]

As per my post elsewhere that Mongoliad Book 1 (Kindle edition) is on offer on Amazon UK. I've decided at two quid I'll give it a try.

 

[Dave]

I've been looking into his stuff, and I'm a little scared. It seems daunting. Can anyone reassure me?

Then read his earlier stuff first before the door stops. Even Anathem is an easy read after he leaves the Monastery.

Someone just suggested Snow Crash. I love Zodiac. The Diamond Age isn't heavy going.

 

[Sekt]

I think that with his bigger books, as soon as you get into the flow and feel of it they're a very easy read. Anathem and REAMDE both have that similar action vibe (REAMDE especially so) that you find in his shorter books, you just get a bit more filling.

I'm a big fan of Kay and Martin (and liked Gemmell as a kid) and Stephenson's definitely up there with those two in my top authors list. Hopefully that'll help convince you!

 

[Finnien]

His early stuff is very fun, relatively easy reading. Cryptonomicon, I think, marks the point at which his work becomes more involved and complex and a little slower. Personally, I loved Cryptonomicon and Anathem, although I never got into the Baroque cycle. His newest novel, Reamde, returns in some ways to his earlier stuff, although it does somewhat shift around a bit in terms of its focus. Personally, I loved the video game world he created within it - the novel was worth reading as much for that as for the story, as far as I was concerned.

Anyways, Snow Crash and Diamond Age are classic cyberpunk, Anathem and Cryptonomicon are great, intriguing novels, and Reamde is a unique semi-thriller with some really interesting MMO world building nestled inside. Cobwebs is a fun government intrigue book, Zodiac is an eco-thriller... he's all over the board, and it's all good stuff.

 

[Sekt]

Personally, I loved Cryptonomicon and Anathem, although I never got into the Baroque cycle.

I'm the same, I really felt the Baroque Cycle books get bogged down in names and events that just don't feel particularly interesting or exciting (to me).