Zodiac by Neal Stephenson
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Book Reviews of Zodiac
Book Review: An older Stephenson novel that is still current
Summary: 5 Stars
I can't believe I'm only now getting to this novel. I love being entertained, and this really moves along at a good clip. Although it was written 20 years ago, the environmental issues addressed haven't changed. Stephenson's humor is in top form, and easily accessible in this relatively short novel. His writing, as always, is enviable. Book Review: Great read
Summary: 5 Stars
Stephenson continually impresses me with his ability to research many different topics in depth enough to accurately blend facts with his great prose.Book Review: how the Earth is being polluted
Summary: 4 Stars
"Zodiac" by Neal Stephenson, ? 1988
The best part of this story is the travel through Boston. It is a pretty good story of how the Earth is being polluted and those who want to save it. The name is the name of the boat the eco-nuts use. The story is not so much a story of whodunit as it is an adventure. Sangamon Taylor runs the group who stumbles onto a scheme to use bacteria to consume Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). This would not be so bad except the opposite happens as well, and that is bad. They have to expose the bad guys and still not be illegal about it. That is their mantra, "Do what you can to expose the evil, but do it so no one goes to jail or has to pay for the action."
Book Review: interesting yarn
Summary: 3 Stars
My take: this was early in NS's development as a writer. It shows. The writer that he has developed into would do a much better job.
But the premise is very interesting. An 'analytical chemist(?!?!)' as the hero (okay, I'm an analytical chemist, one of the few, the proud, and this may be the first fiction book I've ever read with one as the hero...) sets it apart a bit. Obviously the science in parts is a bit sophomoric. But in places it shines. In cases the characterization of different people are good. And the setting of Boston makes it interesting. The twists and turns will keep you turning the pages.
It's just at times the writing is way too earnest, way too explicative. Not to complain too much. My writing is often earnest and explicative as well. But then again, I am not much of a writer, except for science journal reports (and I am sure those aren't generally page-turners for the general public). It's just not to the level of his later stuff, Cryptomonicon, and the Baroque Cycle. I'd like to see a rewrite in his hands, actually. Of course it would turn into an 800 pager, probably, if not a 3000 page trilogy.
At any rate, its in my wife's stack of to-be-read now, and she is neither as critical as me generally, nor taking an analytical chemists view of the analytical chemist hero, so perhaps she'll give it a better review.
Book Review: A deviation from the standard stephenson menu.
Summary: 4 Stars
Gideon's Fall: When You Dont Have a Prayer, Only a Miracle Will Do This novel was a light fun read. Much different than snow crash or diamond age. It will resonant any who came to age in the early eighties. In fact, it made me go out and purchase a zodiac....think of that.