Cryptonomicon Review…finally.
I can barely believe it’s over. Cryptonomicon consumed my reading schedule over the course of the past few weeks in a way no other book has in a long, long time. It was starting to become an albatross around my neck, but alas, it’s behind me now. Finally I can move on.
But before I do, let’s have ourselves a little review, shall we?
Cryptonomicon is like an onion, or an ogre…full of layers.
There are multiple story lines taking place over the course of two separate time periods. There are multiple characters with the same name who know the same people which makes for a generally confusing state of affairs. Consequently, at the end of this 1000 page behemoth, I’m hard pressed to recall the name of a certain main character. It’s on the tip of my tongue, I swear, but it’s lost among a sea of same-namedness.
There are certain aspects of Crypto that are really fantastic so let’s talk about those before getting to the negatives. First, Neal Stephenson really knows his shit when it comes to computer systems, coding programs, and ciphers. That comes through in the story in such a way that for a substantial portion of the text you’re practically reading a how-to guide or a historical recounting of the computing revolution during WWII. The big drawback of this is the fact that Stephenson relies on math, alot. He does a good enough job of making it accessible to the reader, but at the end of the day there is some complicated math (theories) taking place that simply won’t appeal to most readers.
Second, the Characterization, for the most part, is really fantastic. Crypto isn’t really a story about “stuff happening” as much as it is about “people doing stuff”. There is an overarching plot, sure, but you don’t really figure out what it is until about 700 pages in. Until then, you better settle in and get comfy inside the minds of Stephenson’s protagonists who, blessedly, are interesting enough. In my eyes, Crypto above and beyond anything else is a character study… a one thousand page character study. Woof.
Okay, so let’s talk about the suck, and we’ll start right there with the characters. At about 600 pages in one of the main characters makes a big personality switch. If you’re paying attention you’ll notice it and it’ll rub you so wrong that you’ll turn away with a grimace on your face. The personality switch isn’t bad, but it is certainly out of place for the characters pre-established traits. This wouldn’t be such a problem if not for the fact that shortly thereafter all the characters displayed the same personality tweak (ie: they became snarky, wit-holes (read: witty asshole, I just made that up)).
Here’s what I think happened: in the first 500 pages or so the characters are individual and unique if not slightly humdrum and boring. Stephenson was probably working really hard to write like that and honestly it made his characters more real but a whole lot less interesting. Halfway through the book I think he threw his hands up in the air and said, “Ah….fuck it.” From that point on he stopped staying true to the characters and started writing all the characters with his voice, which as it happens is snarky and funny and engaging, but very out of place for the characters.
Over the course of a 1,000 page book I’ll grant you a little room for character development, but only up to a point, and certainly not carte blanche for the entire cast. Anyways, in the grand scheme of the entire book this annoying detail barely made a blip compared to the next one.
There is a character, who I shall not name for fear it will spoil the story, but who is a major player throughout both time periods. He is intentionally enigmatic, appearing out of the ether in obscure places at obscure times doing particularly obscure things. He is really the only part of this book that reminds you Stephenson is a science fiction writer. I’m sure this character will crop back up in the sequels to Crypto and we’ll start to see his “supernatural” origins.
BUT, and it’s a but Sir Mixalot would be proud of–
There is a huge problem with this character… namely the fact that he dies 3/5 of the way through the book. Which is sad and an appropriate bummer at the time…but then he comes BACK with zero explanation. Actually, not only is there zero explanation of his resurrection, not a single character present at that mans death seems disturbed, interested, bewildered, or even remotely interested in the fact that their buddy is up and moving around in the world of the living only a few hundred pages later.
Seriously, what the hell!?
There are a couple theories for this.
One: Stephenson got lazy and made a blunder. I don’t buy this.
Two: Stephenson is intentionally setting up an enigma he will unravel in future stories. Okay, I can buy this.
So what’s the problem? I’ll tell you what the friggin problem is. Cryptonomicon is, like I’ve mentioned multiple times already, a gargantuan book. In a book of that size, you cannot leave enormous plot holes like this. It’s unfair to the reader who most definitely goes into this reading experience with the expectation that all, if not most, and certainly all of the important, questions will be answered.
For most of the book, not much is really happening. In fact there is a twelve page chapter expounding the ideal circumstances required for maximally enjoying a bowl of Cap’n Crunch. I almost threw the book away at this point ’cause I paused halfway through the chapter and said “What in the ever loving fuck am I reading?” Seriously, what’s the point, Neal? It’s good writing, but Jesus it goes nowhere and adds nothing.
Crypto could easily have been condensed into a 400 page classic, and that, in a nutshell, is its greatest offense. It wanders like a ham-drunk frat boy in the desert until ultimately finding a lackluster oasis of a conclusion.
After all that, he couldn’t find the time to answer the question of resurrection? Psh… I’m done, and you should be too.
So what is Cryptonomicon? It’s well written and well researched; a Stephenson novel through and through.
What it isn’t? A good story.
Steer clear of this, my friend. That is unless you want to get sucked into the swirling vortex of time waste.
Anthony
I have it in my reading list and hope to get my hands on it at some point. But, after reading your review (and considering English isn’t my native language), I may go for Reamde first and then Cryptonomicon.
Ya know, I will say that there is a certain type of technical minded reader who will thoroughly enjoy this book. If that’s the case, then you may very well like it. You should give it a read and stop back in and let me know how you liked it.
I’ve never read ReadMe so you should also read that and let me know how it goes!
Thing about Reamde is that it really isn’t sci-fi. So be prepared.
Yeah, I’m not sure I would classify Crypto as sci-fi either. I think it’s definitely beneficial to go into the story knowing that. Thanks for the heads up!
Apparently, it’s supposed to be a technothriller novel. One of the reasons (aside from the writer’s skill, and a friend’s recommendation about Stephenson) that got me interested. 🙂
I love this review – you are such a kick I really think you ought to be writing reviews for magazines that are designed for the under 35 set, although I’d love them just for the humor. So no, I wouldn’t touch this book with a ten foot pole. Why did you tackle it in the first place????
Thanks as always, Noelle! I tackled it because after reading Snow Crash I wanted to read more Stephenson and it seemed critically acclaimed and challenging. I like getting into books that push my comfort zone and figured the length and breadth of Cryptonomicon would fulfill that requirement.
Excellent review, and thanks very much for liking my Looper review, I appreciate it! =) Have a wonderful weekend!
It’s almost as if there’s a certain arc to Mr. Stephenson’s career. Snow Crash throws in everything but the kitchen sink, because for all intents and purposes it’s a first novel. Then The Diamond age gets expert editing and sticks to a single (still very rich) bunch of ideas. Then he becomes a celebrity and editors stop trying to hold him in check.
Just a theory. Even so, I loved the Baroque Cycle and even found Anathem readable. Looking forward to the coming novel.
That’s a beautiful theory. One I fully agree with. On multiple occasions whilst reading Crypto I had the thought that only Neal Stephenson could get a publisher to take such a risk on such a huge book. I haven’t read Diamond Age, but I intend to. It sounds more down my alley than his Baroque Cycle which I fully admit isn’t my cup of tea and therefore shouldn’t be deducted any merit points.
Since you’re not going to read it, I’ll just mention that Quicksilver begins with a seventeenth-century hanging in Boston, seen through the eyes of Enoch Root.
Well, that’s just compelling enough to make me want to read it and get to the bottom of this whole Enoch Root mystery. Though I fear it’ll end the same as Crypto (with a few answers, but many, many more questions).
Reblogged this on Robwired and commented:
You can’t be lazy to get through Neal Stephenson’s latest.
So, I have this book on my shelf gathering dust and waiting for me to read it. I bought it after reading Snow Crash, but left it alone after the disappointment of the Baroque Cycle. Guess it can hibernate a little longer. Thanks for the grreat review.
I am a techie and several colleagues recommended this book six years ago. I got to page 187 and I could no longer do it. Here was my “review of books not finished reading”: http://norberthaupt.com/2008/11/24/cryptonomicon-by-neal-stephenson/
I simply got bored stiff.
It takes a special kind of techie to endure the entire thing, that’s for certain. Multiple times in the two weeks I was reading this people would ask why I kept going when it was clear I wasn’t enjoying myself. I, too, would have stopped reading around 200 pages but I have this weird thing where I can’t not finish a book. A trait that really bit me in the ass on this one. 2 weeks down the drain.
Very insightful review! The book was a good read. I think I liked the WW II parts the most. I never noticed the character switch that you mention. Who was the character? Also who was it that dies and then comes back, is it the Japansese solider in charge of collapsing the tunnels? I thought they (or only he) escaped by taking refuge in the vertical tunnels they had dug? There were so many details in the book, I’ve forgotten most of them.
I agree the WWII parts were my favorite as well!
The character who dies and subsequently comes back is Enoch Root. Alot of mystery surrounding that character.
The character personality switch I noticed most was Randy from the 80s. Him and the japanese soldier both become incredibly flippant and snarky half way through whereas in the first half they are both reserved and fairly proper.
so many details in a book so large I have a hard time keeping them all straight too!