3 ms·

REAMDE was crap, IMO, and I'm a Stephenson fan. And the problem with Stephenson is that's rarely succint so a bad book from him turns into a huge loss of time.

by samuel 5y ago

macintux 5y ago
I addressed that problem with Seveneves by skimming about 1/3rd of it.
- ImaCake 5y ago
  I really liked Seveneves, but totally understand why someone wouldn't like parts of it. I am curious as to which third you skimmed though as the book is effectively three different books with very different moods.
  - macintux 5y ago
    The middle third, since by the time I reached that point I was exhausted and ready to find out how it all ended. Most comments I’ve read here indicate the last part of the book is the most unpopular, so perhaps I should go back someday and read the middle.
    - ImaCake 5y ago
      The first third is very intense, I also was a bit fatigued for that middle third. When I have reread Seveneves I have skipped it. I really like the last third, but it does feel like a completely different book.
the__alchemist 5y ago
Only one I haven't read. Skip it I guess. Reading DoDo now, so verdict's out, but I absolutely adored every other of his books. Fall as a pleasant surprise, since it seemed controversial.
wrycoder 5y ago
Well, I liked it. The merging of different groups of people from different cultures and classes was zany, and the action was non-stop.
- gibspaulding 5y ago
  Reamde would have been my first recomendation to introduce someone to Stevenson. Constant action, an unusually direct storyline for him, and not too too much time spent off in the weeds. Of course some might argue those are the best things about his books, but while Chryptonomicon is perhaps my favorite sci-fi novel I've read, I think it takes a certaim type of person to enjoy a book where the plot gets interupted for 5 page descriptions on how to eat Captain Crunch or a who fucked who of the Greek pantheon.

REAMDE was crap, IMO, and I'm a Stephenson fan. And the problem with Stephenson is that's rarely succint so a bad book from him turns into a huge loss of time.

by samuel 5y ago

REAMDE was crap, IMO, and I'm a Stephenson fan. And the problem with Stephenson is that's rarely succint so a bad book from him turns into a huge loss of time.

macintux 5y ago

I addressed that problem with Seveneves by skimming about 1/3rd of it.

ImaCake 5y ago
I really liked Seveneves, but totally understand why someone wouldn't like parts of it. I am curious as to which third you skimmed though as the book is effectively three different books with very different moods.
- macintux 5y ago
  The middle third, since by the time I reached that point I was exhausted and ready to find out how it all ended. Most comments I’ve read here indicate the last part of the book is the most unpopular, so perhaps I should go back someday and read the middle.
  - ImaCake 5y ago
    The first third is very intense, I also was a bit fatigued for that middle third. When I have reread Seveneves I have skipped it. I really like the last third, but it does feel like a completely different book.

the__alchemist 5y ago

Only one I haven't read. Skip it I guess. Reading DoDo now, so verdict's out, but I absolutely adored every other of his books. Fall as a pleasant surprise, since it seemed controversial.

wrycoder 5y ago

Well, I liked it. The merging of different groups of people from different cultures and classes was zany, and the action was non-stop.

gibspaulding 5y ago
Reamde would have been my first recomendation to introduce someone to Stevenson. Constant action, an unusually direct storyline for him, and not too too much time spent off in the weeds. Of course some might argue those are the best things about his books, but while Chryptonomicon is perhaps my favorite sci-fi novel I've read, I think it takes a certaim type of person to enjoy a book where the plot gets interupted for 5 page descriptions on how to eat Captain Crunch or a who fucked who of the Greek pantheon.