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It always bothered me that Enoch Root dies in Sweden during the second world war (page 541 in my copy) and then suddenly appears in a Manila prison in the 90's

by mixmax 19y ago

It always bothered me that Enoch Root dies in Sweden during the second world war (page 541 in my copy) and then suddenly appears in a Manila prison in the 90's (page 860) I mean what's up with that? He's a main character - did Neil Stephenson just forget that he killed him earlier in the book or what?

msb 19y ago
He has an elixir which allows him to be resurrected. He uses it in the Baroque Cycle as well as Cryptonomicon. If I remember correctly he also uses it to revive Bobby Shaftoe.
- davidw 19y ago
  Right - in Sweden, when he dies, Hacklehaber stays in the room with him, and then walks out with some guy under a sheet, which is evidently Root.
  - mixmax 19y ago
    Aah, always wondered about that. Thanks for clearing it up.
    - davidw 19y ago
      There are a bunch of other things that are also a bit clearer if you read the Baroque cycle, which also add to a rereading of Cryptonomicon, like the Samurai swords in the trunk of the Shaftoes' car.