Neal Stephenson

topic posted Sat, May 15, 2004 - 8:44 AM by  blank
I was captivated by his book, Cryptonomicon. It had all the qualities of an interesting story, good plot and WWII. I have quite a library of WWII in the making. It took me a long time to get the courage to buy any books about the war as I remember the McCarthy hearings and what that did to a lot of lives. Cryptonomicon takes place in WWII and present day. Good mix of characters. Then he comes out with a new series of books called "The Baroque Cycle. I have already finished "Quicksilver" and have started on "Confusion". It deals with the ancestors of Waterhouse and Shaftoe that were in Cryptonomicon. Makes it very entertaining. But then I always liked epic movies and epic books. The longer the better. My son-in-law turned me on to Neal and I have enjoyed his books.
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  • Re: Neal Stephenson

    Wed, May 19, 2004 - 12:04 PM
    What other good World War II stories would you recommend?
    • Re: Neal Stephenson

      Tue, June 1, 2004 - 5:23 PM
      Most of the WWII books I have read are non-fiction. You ought to see my library...woops, you have!!!
      I just found a CD that is entitled "Six Months That Changed The World" It is the Treaty of Versailles and the Road to WWII. It actually is a University course by Margaret MacMillan. I am looking forward to listening to it. Right now I am listening to a CD that deals with all the things they did not teach you in High School about History. It is fascinating how much is left out of our High School History classes. Real shame. They don't teach the kids to think and reason, just memorize facts.
      I just remembered a good author on books about WWII...Herman Wouk. He wrote epics "The Winds of War" and "War and Remembrance". Both excellent.
      Another good story, that does not have to do with WWII is "The Rising Sun" By Douglas Galbraith. It d takes place in 1698 when 5 vessels led by the flagship "Rising Sun" embark from Scotland to what is now Panama and their adventures and hardships. It is an exciting read. I had never quite read anything like that before. When you read about these pioneering people who were brave enough to leave a semi secure homeland (well, it was familiar) and venture out into the unknown, it really makes your heart go out to them. It is very fascinating. There were 2000 that started out and only 300 came back. A real tragic story.
      • Unsu...
         

        Re: Neal Stephenson

        Tue, June 1, 2004 - 6:59 PM
        Well, it's althist, but The Children's War is a great extension of a possible outcome of WWII.
    • Man in the High Tower

      Tue, August 23, 2005 - 7:18 AM
      The classic post-WWII alternate history is, I think, Philip K. Dick's "Man in the High Tower". Long before "Fatherland", PKD envisioned an occupied America with his usual creativity and flair.
  • Re: Neal Stephenson

    Wed, August 18, 2004 - 1:46 PM
    I'm reading Cryptonomicon now, and I love the WWII stuff, but I'm finding the modern bits a much slower slog. I promised myslef I'll read Quicksilver next

    What do you think of these books, from a real historic persepctive?

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