I've read several Stephenson novels and the only one that didn't follow the pattern of: [great, great first 3rd] [2nd third: OK, this isn't as good, but I thi

I've read several Stephenson novels and the only one that didn't follow the pattern of: [great, great first 3rd] [2nd third: OK, this isn't as good, but I think he's setting up for something in the last 3rd so I'm still on board I guess] [last 3rd: oh f_ck you this is awful.] Was Cryptonomicon. The one that did it the worst was The Diamond Age, which followed that pattern so strongly that it made me swear off Neal Stephenson forever. At one point he has to have one character tell us what another character's motivation has been, in a conversation with that character, in a scene that exists solely for that purpose, because there's no possible way the reader could have puzzled it out otherwise. And that's just one of the problems. What a disaster, and what a great first third. Still makes me mad. [edit: formatting]