Difference between revisions of "Cryptonomicon"
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− | + | {{Book | |
+ | | Title = Cryptonomicon | ||
+ | | Image = Cryptonomicon - Hardcover - USA - 1st Edition.jpg | ||
+ | | ImageDescription = Hardcover - USA - 1st edition. | ||
+ | | Author = {{BookAuthor|Neal Stephenson}} | ||
+ | | PublishedYear = 1999 | ||
+ | | PublishedMonth = 05 | ||
+ | | PublishedDay = ?? | ||
+ | | Type = {{BookType|Fiction}} | ||
+ | | Genre = {{BookGenre|Adventure}} | ||
+ | | Themes = {{MediaTheme|Adventure}}, {{MediaTheme|Computers}}, {{MediaTheme|Cryptography}}, {{MediaTheme|Hacking}}, {{MediaTheme|Historical Fiction}}, {{MediaTheme|Japan}}, {{MediaTheme|Techno-Thriller}}, {{MediaTheme|War}}, {{MediaTheme|World War II}} | ||
+ | | AgeGroup = Adult | ||
+ | }} | ||
− | '''''Cryptonomicon''''' is a novel that is a mix between a historical fiction and techno-thriller by [[Neal Stephenson]], published in 1999. The | + | '''''Cryptonomicon''''' is a novel that is a mix between a historical fiction and [[techno-thriller]] by [[Neal Stephenson]], published in May 1999. It would later serve as a later book in the chronology of [[The Baroque Cycle (universe)|The Baroque Cycle]]. The book jumps between two primary stories, one of WWII cryptography and espionage, the other of late-1990s entrepreneurs trying to become both extremely wealthy and change the world by introducing a new electronic crypto-currency. There are several other characters with back-stories that converge on the primary stories. |
− | + | Stephenson created an ancient book called the ''Cryptonomicon'', a dense tome discussing the growth and progress of cryptography over the centuries, for this story. He later talks about its fictional creator in a subsequent book, ''[[Quicksilver]]''. I would love to see such a book created in real life! | |
− | + | ==Personal== | |
+ | {{BookStatus | ||
+ | | Own = | ||
+ | | Read = Audiobook read by [[William Dufris]]. | ||
+ | | Finished = 2015. | ||
+ | }} | ||
− | + | I was already a fan of Neal Stephenson's work having read ''[[Snow Crash]]'' when my coworker Paul gave great praise after having finished ''Cryptonomicon'', I added to my to-read list, but it took several years before I finally did. But, once I did, I loved it. | |
− | I | ||
==Review== | ==Review== | ||
+ | {{BookRating|9}} | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{Spoilers}} | ||
+ | |||
===Good=== | ===Good=== | ||
* The story is extremely engrossing, and telling the two stories at once is a great way at keeping everything fresh. | * The story is extremely engrossing, and telling the two stories at once is a great way at keeping everything fresh. | ||
Line 26: | Line 46: | ||
===Ugly=== | ===Ugly=== | ||
* Nothing really. This book was a joy to read. | * Nothing really. This book was a joy to read. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==Representation== | ||
+ | {{Representation | ||
+ | | Media = Books | ||
+ | | StrongFemaleCharacterStatus = Pass | ||
+ | | StrongFemaleCharacterNotes = | ||
+ | | BechdelTestStatus = Unknown | ||
+ | | BechdelTestNotes = | ||
+ | | StrongPOCCharacterStatus = Pass | ||
+ | | StrongPOCCharacterNotes = | ||
+ | | QueerCharacterStatus = Pass | ||
+ | | QueerCharacterNotes = | ||
+ | }} | ||
==Links== | ==Links== | ||
− | + | {{Link|Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptonomicon}} | |
+ | {{Link|GoodReads|https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/816.Cryptonomicon}} | ||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
[[Category: Favorite]] | [[Category: Favorite]] | ||
[[Category: Favorite Books]] | [[Category: Favorite Books]] | ||
− |
Latest revision as of 11:07, 3 August 2023
Cryptonomicon | ||||||||||||
Hardcover - USA - 1st edition. |
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Cryptonomicon is a novel that is a mix between a historical fiction and techno-thriller by Neal Stephenson, published in May 1999. It would later serve as a later book in the chronology of The Baroque Cycle. The book jumps between two primary stories, one of WWII cryptography and espionage, the other of late-1990s entrepreneurs trying to become both extremely wealthy and change the world by introducing a new electronic crypto-currency. There are several other characters with back-stories that converge on the primary stories.
Stephenson created an ancient book called the Cryptonomicon, a dense tome discussing the growth and progress of cryptography over the centuries, for this story. He later talks about its fictional creator in a subsequent book, Quicksilver. I would love to see such a book created in real life!
Personal
Own? | No. |
---|---|
Read? | Audiobook read by William Dufris. |
Finished | 2015. |
I was already a fan of Neal Stephenson's work having read Snow Crash when my coworker Paul gave great praise after having finished Cryptonomicon, I added to my to-read list, but it took several years before I finally did. But, once I did, I loved it.
Review
Overall: |
— This section contains spoilers! —
Good
- The story is extremely engrossing, and telling the two stories at once is a great way at keeping everything fresh.
- I found practically all of the characters very interesting. The ones I liked, I really liked, the ones I hated, I really hated. Even the villains were quite human and relatable.
- There are plenty of moments when you want to cheer from a victory, cry from something heart-breaking, and laugh out loud from a clever joke.
- I enjoyed the numerous detailed forays into technology and math.
- Though cryptographic currencies did exist in 1999 when the book was published, they were still very fringe, so it was very forward-thinking for Stephenson to include them, although, he didn't count on something like Bitcoin which doesn't need gold backing.
Bad
- Stephenson's use of jumping back and forth between plot lines effectively holds suspense, while also teasing the reader with premature information, however, the disjointed chapters require the reader to infer a fair amount information and often becomes confusing.
- Stephenson tends to go on and on about unrelated topics that seem to only exist to pad the book. However, he has such a wonderful writing style, it's forgivable.
- The ease at which Van Eck phreaking is implemented is far too easy to create.
- I didn't much care for how the book finishes in such an open-ended fashion.
Ugly
- Nothing really. This book was a joy to read.
Representation
Strong female character? | Pass | |
---|---|---|
Bechdel test? | Unknown | |
Strong person of color character? | Pass | |
Queer character? | Pass |
Links
- Books
- Books Published in 1999
- Adult Books
- Books written by Neal Stephenson
- Fiction
- Book Genre - Adventure
- Media Theme - Adventure
- Media Theme - Computers
- Media Theme - Cryptography
- Media Theme - Hacking
- Media Theme - Historical Fiction
- Media Theme - Japan
- Media Theme - Techno-Thriller
- Media Theme - War
- Media Theme - World War II
- Books I Don't Own
- Books I've Read
- Books Rated - 9
- Books with a strong female character
- Books with unknown Bechdel test status
- Books with a strong person of color character
- Books with a queer character
- Favorite
- Favorite Books