Quicksilver (The Baroque Cycle, Vol. 1) by Neal Stephenson
|
List Price: Our Price: $9.74 You Save: $18.21 (65%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Quicksilver (The Baroque Cycle, Vol. 1)
Book Review: this book makes you think
Summary: 5 Stars
It was nice to read something that wasn't all plot. The last book I read before this one was The Last Jihad - need I say more...I knew that when Quicksilver arrived in the mail that it would not be an easy read - but I was anxiously awaiting the chance and I was not disappointed. I had been exposed to most of those scientists during my school years, but what really interested me was the detail in which he described London and its inhabitants. I was laughing out loud as he described some of the outlandish outfits some of the 'fops' wore to walk around the streets. I could picture it perfectly as Neal has a great way of describing things when he puts his mind to it.
Like other reviewers mentioned, there is lots of stuff here and no coherent plot, but I found myself looking up some of the names mentioned in the book to find out more. How many works of fiction actually make you want to expand your knowledge like that?
In today's world where most of us hunger for instant gratification and neat plotlines, it was refreshing to read something that took you back to a pretty much forgotten era. It made me realize how many important things were discovered. I can't wait until the 2 volumes come out.
Book Review: History makes for a great story
Summary: 5 Stars
I just finished reading Quicksilver and I must say that it met every one of my excpectations and then some. I've read alot of reviews here claiming that the book has no plot, but I thought the story was amazing and here's why. I knew absolutely nothing about European history. The backdrop for the plot is the events that transpired in Europe during the mid to late 1600's, if you don't know anything about that time period, then the history provides it's own plot. However, because many people are quite familiar with the history in the book, I gave it four stars, since you pretty much already know whats going to happen. Now I have read every other Stephenson novel to date. He is my favorite author, so whatever he writes, I'm going to love, but one thing I want people to keep in mind is that Neal Stephenson has been know for some rather ambitious stories that tend to cover alot of ground before they end. This is but the first of three, so I feel there is a distinct possibility that some may be judging the story of THIS book without viewing it in the context of a TRILOGY. I can only hope that the nay-sayers eat their words when all is said and done. You know what, screw four stars, I give it five.
Book Review: Stephenson does it again
Summary: 5 Stars
Stephenson has written another masterpiece. He splits quicksilver into three different books. all of which is historical fiction set in the 16 and 1700s. each character has a very distinct personality and the narration is changed up to describe each characters piece of the story. The reader gets descriptions of historical events through a character's eyes. this tends to make it more of a feeling like you are witnessing events through an average persons eyes which gives the book some meaning to those who would rather know how things happened not from a historian's point of view, but through the possible point of view of a person during this time period. for those who would like to have a description on the founding of calculus, or colonial surgery, READ A HISTORY BOOK, this book is not too inform the reader of these things but too be just what many books are created for. ENTERTAINMENT. understand that many books are made to entertain people, not just inform them. this gives the reader enough of a historical base that they can very well learn something, but most of all it is entertaining. and if you read 300 pages in and are not hooked then you obviously have a reading disorder or ADD.Book Review: Stephenson's best...so far
Summary: 5 Stars
After a two week marathon session, during which I shunned food, family and Christmas alike, I finished Stephenson's Quicksilver. Once again, I was blown away by his style, vocabulary, character development and his astounding ability to weave a multitude of seemingly-unconnected events into a coherent, even beautiful, whole.The characters seemed to jump off the page and far from being carbon copies of one another; each brought a unique force to bear on this shaky, intrigue-plagued, action-packed era of world history.
Those that criticize the work do so, I imagine, out of a disappointment that this book is not a hard-core science fiction work, a la "Snow Crash" or "Diamond Age". However, anyone who read "Cryptonomicon" and enjoyed the characters of Enoch Root, America Shaftoe or Randy Waterhouse, will no doubt enjoy glimpsing a few generations back in their family history.
At just over 900 pages, it's not for everybody. If you are looking for a book that is intelligent, witty, fun, exciting and does NOT cater to the lowest common denominator, then Quicksilver is for you. I can't wait for the sequel.
Book Review: A Fascinating Book
Summary: 5 Stars
I usually like to wait until I complete a book before writing a review but, with some of the comments on here about Quicksilver, I didn't want to wait. This is totally fascinating book about a time and place and epoch in history. The level of detail is spellbinding in regard to the history, science, fashion, politics, intrigue, and morals of the later 17th and early 18th century. And I do feel like I "know" many of the characters -- Daniel Waterhouse, Watkins, Newton, etc. -- even though the main characters of this book are Natural Philosophy, the Scientific Revolution, the Laws of Physics, Cromwell and then the Restoration, and the like.
And the plot is much more riveting than a Grisham thriller since it has to do with real events -- what will the results be of the experiments of the Royal Society? How will Anglicans, Catholics, and Puritans co-exist in England, America? Is Newton a genius or a madman?
Overall, if you give this book the time and attention it deserves (use the maps, royal history charts, and cast list in the back liberally) you will be well-rewarded.