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On the other hand, my understanding is that he was wrong about rather many fairly elementary things... making people wonder whether it is perhaps because of shoddy research or altogether lack thereof.
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That is very true. (See, Ahi - we *can* agree :-) ) The academic rigour of his research is very poor in all his books. His coverage of computing in general and specifically encryption in "Digital Fortress", for example, is utterly laughable (which is a serious flaw, as it's a novel essentially *about* encryption).
His language and style are also dismal.
However, I've read them all, and I plan to buy the next one when it's available. There is something addictive about them - despise them as much as I do I can't help but want to read them, so that must say something about them (or me) (or both).
To be constructive, if not entirely on-topic - if you want a very good novel in which encryption plays a significant part, try Neal Stephenson's "Cryptonomicon". Wonderful stuff.
/JB