Neil Stephenson: Science FictionThis guy had written an undistinguished novel that had been published, (Zodiac), and so he decided to start writing a computer game since writing novels did not seem to be working for him. Eventually the project to write the game was abandoned, and he decided to take the story line he had created and turn it into a novel. The novel was:
SnowcrashThis novel is traditional cyberpunk. In a future where the government is pretty much powerless, the mafia has become one of a number of conglomerates that pretty much run things. The main character, Hiro Protaganist, is a pizza delivery boy for the mafia's pizza chain. But that is just his day job. In his off-hours he is a warrior prince in the virtual reality online universe. And he eventually saves the world.Paperback ISBN: 0-553-56261-4
The Diamond AgeThis novel is very different from Snowcrash. It is a more literary novel that explores the theme of the relationship between fathers and their daughters, and to a lesser extent the relationship between mothers and their daughters. It also explores what are the ingredients of an upbringing that make a girl become someone who can change the world. In it Stephenson's conservative views come out, but even though I am not conservative I found it a great experience to read. This was my favorite book for a long time.Paperback ISBN: 0-553-57331-4
CryptonomiconStephenson's latest is 910 pages large, so it is not for the faint-of-heart. What is great about this novel is that it describes so truly the worlds that technolgy wizards (i.e., geeks) live in today and lived in during WWII. What I did not like as much is a) it could have been about half as long and it would have been better, and b) his conservative beliefs kept intruding in an obnoxious way. I'm glad I read this, and will continue to read his work as a fan, but I had hoped for fewer words and more quality after having read The Diamond Age.Hardbound ISBN: 0-380-97346-4
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