Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle

Paegan2246 · 04-20-2016, 12:36 PM

I just finished this entire series on Audible. The audible versions are split into 8 different purchases rather than the three in the printed version. It is narrated by Simon Prebble - who does a very good job. This was my first exposure to Stephenson. I've never read any of his books before this.

I enjoyed it immensely (being a history buff added to the enjoyment, I think).
The reviews on Goodreads for this series are all over the map. Many people hated it, found it dull and in need of a good edit. I don't think that although it did drag in certain spots. All in all I enjoyed it.

I have Cryptonomicon in my pile to read, but think I will take a break before taking on another of his books. They are long.

ElspethB · 05-20-2016, 01:16 PM

Good to hear this recommendation. I've been planning to listen to this opus. I have a long commute, so I tend to like longer works.

taosaur · 06-17-2016, 03:42 AM

I just finished the months-long project of reading this series on my Kindle, earlier tonight. I'm tempted to dive right into audio, but it's pretty weak that they're using the "serial" rather than "trilogy" chronology. It's not just a matter of having to spend $90-100 to get the series. Stephenson also recut the books for the trilogy release, shuffling the chapters of the books together to maintain chronology and make the whole thing flow as a single 3000 page novel.

I did love the series, and didn't find it nearly as challenging as reviews lead me to expect. It was more compelling and less esoteric than Cryptonomicon, I thought, despite being much longer and similarly complex.

I don't have too many Stephenson novels left to read, and mostly early stuff of which I'm a bit leery. Snow Crash was a big let down when I read it as a teenager, and put me off Stephenson for over a decade. I am looking forward to Seveneves. It's probably accurate to say he's my favorite author at the moment. Anathem is probably my favorite science fiction book of all time.

ApK · 06-17-2016, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taosaur

I don't have too many Stephenson novels left to read, and mostly early stuff of which I'm a bit leery. Snow Crash was a big let down when I read it as a teenager, and put me off Stephenson for over a decade. I am looking forward to Seveneves. It's probably accurate to say he's my favorite author at the moment. Anathem is probably my favorite science fiction book of all time.

There was a lot in Snow Crash that I liked, IIRC. I'm not sure if I ever finished "Diamond Age." Those earlier novels tended to keep my interest in the beginning, then lose me toward the ends.
Cryptonomicon, too, I thought had a weak ending.
I enjoyed Reamde, though it turned into something quite different than it was pitched as, and as it started out being.

Anathem is queued up toward the top of my list, I may try that next.

ElspethB · 06-17-2016, 09:24 AM

Should I listen to Cryptonomicon before The Baroque Cycle?

taosaur · 06-19-2016, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElspethB

Should I listen to Cryptonomicon before The Baroque Cycle?

If anything, the opposite, but really either way is fine.

ApK · 06-19-2016, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taosaur

If anything, the opposite, but really either way is fine.

Are they connected in some way?

taosaur · 06-19-2016, 04:48 PM

The Baroque Cycle can be seen as a sort of loose prequel to Cryptonomicon, though again, neither depends upon the other. There is a minor character who appears in both books, and I suspect the large stores of gold appearing in each book are also one and the same. There's also a strong thematic connection between the WWII portion of Crypto and much of TBC, as both revolve around the actions of eccentric scientists and mathematicians, at least some of whom are making early attempts at computers. It's been years since I read Crypto, and I suspect having read TBC will cast much of it in a different light.

Again though, the stories are quite independent.

04-20-2016, 12:36 PM	#1
Paegan2246 Connoisseur Posts: 86 Karma: 2627294 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Wisconsin Device: Kindle Keyboard, Kindle Touch, iPod Touch, 3-160GB iPod classics	Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle I just finished this entire series on Audible. The audible versions are split into 8 different purchases rather than the three in the printed version. It is narrated by Simon Prebble - who does a very good job. This was my first exposure to Stephenson. I've never read any of his books before this. I enjoyed it immensely (being a history buff added to the enjoyment, I think). The reviews on Goodreads for this series are all over the map. Many people hated it, found it dull and in need of a good edit. I don't think that although it did drag in certain spots. All in all I enjoyed it. I have Cryptonomicon in my pile to read, but think I will take a break before taking on another of his books. They are long. Last edited by Paegan2246; 04-20-2016 at 12:46 PM.

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05-20-2016, 01:16 PM	#2
ElspethB Passionate Reader Posts: 276 Karma: 1829152 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Central Jersey, USA Device: Samsung Galaxy Tab S3, Kobo Clara HD, Fire HD 8, Voyage, Oasis 3, PW5	Good to hear this recommendation. I've been planning to listen to this opus. I have a long commute, so I tend to like longer works.

06-17-2016, 03:42 AM	#3
taosaur intelligent posterior Posts: 1,562 Karma: 21295618 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ohiopolis Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2, Samsung S8, Lenovo Tab 3 Pro	I just finished the months-long project of reading this series on my Kindle, earlier tonight. I'm tempted to dive right into audio, but it's pretty weak that they're using the "serial" rather than "trilogy" chronology. It's not just a matter of having to spend $90-100 to get the series. Stephenson also recut the books for the trilogy release, shuffling the chapters of the books together to maintain chronology and make the whole thing flow as a single 3000 page novel. I did love the series, and didn't find it nearly as challenging as reviews lead me to expect. It was more compelling and less esoteric than Cryptonomicon, I thought, despite being much longer and similarly complex. I don't have too many Stephenson novels left to read, and mostly early stuff of which I'm a bit leery. Snow Crash was a big let down when I read it as a teenager, and put me off Stephenson for over a decade. I am looking forward to Seveneves. It's probably accurate to say he's my favorite author at the moment. Anathem is probably my favorite science fiction book of all time.

06-17-2016, 09:24 AM	#5
ElspethB Passionate Reader Posts: 276 Karma: 1829152 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Central Jersey, USA Device: Samsung Galaxy Tab S3, Kobo Clara HD, Fire HD 8, Voyage, Oasis 3, PW5	Should I listen to Cryptonomicon before The Baroque Cycle?

06-19-2016, 04:48 PM	#8
taosaur intelligent posterior Posts: 1,562 Karma: 21295618 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ohiopolis Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2, Samsung S8, Lenovo Tab 3 Pro	The Baroque Cycle can be seen as a sort of loose prequel to Cryptonomicon, though again, neither depends upon the other. There is a minor character who appears in both books, and I suspect the large stores of gold appearing in each book are also one and the same. There's also a strong thematic connection between the WWII portion of Crypto and much of TBC, as both revolve around the actions of eccentric scientists and mathematicians, at least some of whom are making early attempts at computers. It's been years since I read Crypto, and I suspect having read TBC will cast much of it in a different light. Again though, the stories are quite independent.

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