5 ms·

Seveneves is one of my favorites, even though it gets mixed reactions from a lot of others who've read titles like Anathem. I can't compare it to Anathem (the o

by eganist 10y ago

Seveneves is one of my favorites, even though it gets mixed reactions from a lot of others who've read titles like Anathem. I can't compare it to Anathem (the only other Stephenson book I've read so far is Cryptonomicon; looking to change that), but I can say I love the technical depth. Perhaps it's because it helps me suspend disbelief much more easily, though Bill's point that "if you’re the sort of reader who doesn’t care how such a thing might work, you will find yourself skimming parts of Seveneves" is probably true for most lay readers. The only thing that somewhat frustrated me about it, as I suspect is the case for most people, is the fact that the last third of the book feels like it could (should?) stand on its own. That being said, there's enough room for Stephenson to explore in more depth some of the events leading up to the third act in subsequent novels... so here's hoping. I figure explaining why I feel this way would be a bit of a spoiler. Bill does enough to allude to it. Anyway, thumbs up from me. I enjoyed every bit of it, and Bill's review does a good job of selling the book without spoiling it.

wrs 10y ago
Like all Stephenson, this book is full of ideas that are just...huge. The frustrating thing is the feeling that it should be merely the first book in a long, rich series, like Niven's Known Space. But the guy has so many ideas he just has to crank out this giant book and move on to the next one...
- arethuza 10y ago
  Doesn't the Baroque Cycle and Cryptonomicon count as a "long rich series"?
  - jeremysmyth 10y ago
    Only in the loosest possible sense. Having the same (or similar, or related) characters does not necessarily imply a "full rich series". The Baroque cycle, sure, because the characters share arcs. Cryptonomicon is a completely different story though. Stephenson said this about the relationship between Cryptonomicon and its different-timeline "sequels" (not yet written at this point): " I'm trying not to give the idea that it's a tightly locked together set of books... There are always a few strange little corners of the story that may not make sense outside of the context of the full series, but 99% of it can stand on its own reasonably well, I hope." http://www.locusmag.com/1999/Issues/08/Stephenson.html http://www.locusmag.com/1999/Issues/08/Stephenson.html
yoodenvranx 10y ago
> The only thing that somewhat frustrated me about it, as I suspect is the case for most people, is the fact that the last third of the book feels like it could (should?) stand on its own For me that last third part feels... rushed? I can not really explain it but the first two thirds of the book were awesome and then when you reach the last part you feel like Stephenson had to meed a deadline for printing and that part is just tacked onto the main story. It is way too short for its content, I feel like Stephenson could spend a good two or three books exploring this new story arc.
- chiph 10y ago
  Stephenson tends to rush his endings - Cryptonomicon basically wrapped up in about 30 pages. But what got me was the abrupt change in view on that last third of Seveneves. I needed more transition time, as he's introducing a whole new society.
  - perseusprime11 10y ago
    Isn't it the case for most notable scifi books? Enders game wrapped up pretty quickly in the final few pages.
- surge 10y ago
  He was world building, you basically read a book setting up for what could be turned into an RPG/MMO or series of books or TV/movie properties. The last part of the book is just setting up this world, the first two books were explaining how it all came to be. If you read up you'll see he's been sitting on this concept for some time and shopped it around for those puproses. I look forward to more books based on the world in the third book/part, an MMO seems like a cool idea too.
e12e 10y ago
> the only other Stephenson book I've read so far is Cryptonomicon Absolutely recommend "Diamond Age" and to a lesser extent (but more fun) "Snowcrash". I started "Cryptonomicon" right after reading Singh's "The Code Book", and it just felt like Stephenson did a sub-par job with the subject material (perhaps especially because "The Code Book" isn't fiction, but almost reads like it). Did start "Seveneves" when there was a free teaser out, but haven't gotten around to it yet -- it's on my list. I'm hoping it's a bit tighter than most of the stuff since "Diamond Age".
- soylentcola 10y ago
  Snow Crash and Diamond Age were my introduction to Stephenson in the late 90's. So far, of the ones I've read they are probably the most accessible and, as you mention, fun. Even though it's not essential in any way to read them in that order, The Diamond age is hinted to take place later on in the same world as Snow Crash so if you've got no preference for which order to read them, you might as well go that route. There a couple of winks to Snow Crash readers in The Diamond Age.
  - pavedwalden 10y ago
    The only references I remember are the smart-wheel wheelchair and the old woman who remembers the "chiseled spam" advertisement for them. Any other hints you can recall?
- WorldMaker 10y ago
  Snowcrash and Diamond Age are also great, relatively short introductions to the Stephenson plot style which mostly seems to be "amazing intro, great ideas in world building, then anticlimax and eventual abrupt stop or slow fizzle to the end". The fact that his books only get longer with time makes that pattern more and more confounding for me, at least. The one reversal of the formula I felt was Anathem. It's a very, very slow build of world building (still fun, if you don't mind academic puree), but then I felt had perhaps one of Stephenson's strongest, most climactic endings.
JPKab 10y ago
It's an amazing book, but I agree regarding the last third of the book. I'm hoping it's a springboard for sequels. I want to hear more about the Pingers and the Diggers.

by eganist 10y ago

wrs 10y ago

Like all Stephenson, this book is full of ideas that are just...huge. The frustrating thing is the feeling that it should be merely the first book in a long, rich series, like Niven's Known Space. But the guy has so many ideas he just has to crank out this giant book and move on to the next one...

arethuza 10y ago
Doesn't the Baroque Cycle and Cryptonomicon count as a "long rich series"?
- jeremysmyth 10y ago
  Only in the loosest possible sense. Having the same (or similar, or related) characters does not necessarily imply a "full rich series". The Baroque cycle, sure, because the characters share arcs. Cryptonomicon is a completely different story though. Stephenson said this about the relationship between Cryptonomicon and its different-timeline "sequels" (not yet written at this point): " I'm trying not to give the idea that it's a tightly locked together set of books... There are always a few strange little corners of the story that may not make sense outside of the context of the full series, but 99% of it can stand on its own reasonably well, I hope." http://www.locusmag.com/1999/Issues/08/Stephenson.html http://www.locusmag.com/1999/Issues/08/Stephenson.html

yoodenvranx 10y ago

> The only thing that somewhat frustrated me about it, as I suspect is the case for most people, is the fact that the last third of the book feels like it could (should?) stand on its own For me that last third part feels... rushed? I can not really explain it but the first two thirds of the book were awesome and then when you reach the last part you feel like Stephenson had to meed a deadline for printing and that part is just tacked onto the main story. It is way too short for its content, I feel like Stephenson could spend a good two or three books exploring this new story arc.

chiph 10y ago
Stephenson tends to rush his endings - Cryptonomicon basically wrapped up in about 30 pages. But what got me was the abrupt change in view on that last third of Seveneves. I needed more transition time, as he's introducing a whole new society.
- perseusprime11 10y ago
  Isn't it the case for most notable scifi books? Enders game wrapped up pretty quickly in the final few pages.
surge 10y ago
He was world building, you basically read a book setting up for what could be turned into an RPG/MMO or series of books or TV/movie properties. The last part of the book is just setting up this world, the first two books were explaining how it all came to be. If you read up you'll see he's been sitting on this concept for some time and shopped it around for those puproses. I look forward to more books based on the world in the third book/part, an MMO seems like a cool idea too.

e12e 10y ago

> the only other Stephenson book I've read so far is Cryptonomicon Absolutely recommend "Diamond Age" and to a lesser extent (but more fun) "Snowcrash". I started "Cryptonomicon" right after reading Singh's "The Code Book", and it just felt like Stephenson did a sub-par job with the subject material (perhaps especially because "The Code Book" isn't fiction, but almost reads like it). Did start "Seveneves" when there was a free teaser out, but haven't gotten around to it yet -- it's on my list. I'm hoping it's a bit tighter than most of the stuff since "Diamond Age".

soylentcola 10y ago
Snow Crash and Diamond Age were my introduction to Stephenson in the late 90's. So far, of the ones I've read they are probably the most accessible and, as you mention, fun. Even though it's not essential in any way to read them in that order, The Diamond age is hinted to take place later on in the same world as Snow Crash so if you've got no preference for which order to read them, you might as well go that route. There a couple of winks to Snow Crash readers in The Diamond Age.
- pavedwalden 10y ago
  The only references I remember are the smart-wheel wheelchair and the old woman who remembers the "chiseled spam" advertisement for them. Any other hints you can recall?
WorldMaker 10y ago
Snowcrash and Diamond Age are also great, relatively short introductions to the Stephenson plot style which mostly seems to be "amazing intro, great ideas in world building, then anticlimax and eventual abrupt stop or slow fizzle to the end". The fact that his books only get longer with time makes that pattern more and more confounding for me, at least. The one reversal of the formula I felt was Anathem. It's a very, very slow build of world building (still fun, if you don't mind academic puree), but then I felt had perhaps one of Stephenson's strongest, most climactic endings.

JPKab 10y ago

It's an amazing book, but I agree regarding the last third of the book. I'm hoping it's a springboard for sequels. I want to hear more about the Pingers and the Diggers.