It's a progression. Story, style, characterization, and science in equal measure at first. Then more and more of the latter and less of the first three. Perhaps

It's a progression. Story, style, characterization, and science in equal measure at first. Then more and more of the latter and less of the first three. Perhaps he did peak in Diamond Age, then it's basically Asimov after - pretty hard sci-fi with no story / characters (or at least no characters / story anyone cares about). Snow Crash - most story / style / MEMORABLE characters Diamond Age - same but with a very dramatic evolution from traditional Cyberpunk Anathem / Seven Eves - virtually no memorable characters, interesting concepts and science though Cryptonomicon - I couldn't.