I'd say Snow Crash to get the flavor of his early work.
Can't even shout, Can't even cry. The Gentlemen are coming by. Looking in windows, knocking on doors. They need to take seven, and they might take yours. Can't call to mom, can't say a word. You're gonna die screaming but you won't be heard.
Dream Girl ,'Bring On The Night'
Literary Buffistas 3: Don't Parse the Blurb, Dear.
There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."
Jessica - May 14, 2010 8:09:53 am PDT #11440 of 28706
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset
DawnK - May 14, 2010 8:11:15 am PDT #11441 of 28706
giraffe mode
I vote Snow Crash 'cause I loved it tons. Cryptonomicon was good but I liked Snow Crash better. Although if you liked Anathem, you might like Cryptonomicon better. It's win-win frankly. I didn't like The Diamond Age as much but it was the 4th or 5th Stephenson book I'd read in a row and it could have just been fatigue.
Steph L. - May 14, 2010 8:12:03 am PDT #11442 of 28706
That which does not kill you should RUN
Dawn! Did you read Skulduggery yet???
Jessica - May 14, 2010 8:12:50 am PDT #11443 of 28706
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset
I didn't like The Diamond Age as much but it was the 4th or 5th Stephenson book I'd read in a row and it could have just been fatigue.
It was probably because The Diamond Age is unbelievably boring.
DawnK - May 14, 2010 8:14:13 am PDT #11444 of 28706
giraffe mode
NO!!!! The youngest has left it in his locker at SCHOOL! I told him if he didn't bring it home today, he was going to be grounded (I was only half kidding - almost 14 year old boys are a trial!). It's killing me. I am rereading Good Omens for the millionth time instead.
P.M. Marc - May 14, 2010 8:15:20 am PDT #11445 of 28706
So come, my friends, be not afraid/We are so lightly here/It is in love that we are made; In love we disappear
It was probably because The Diamond Age is unbelievably boring.
I am the Anti-Jess in this. Diamond Age is my favorite of his works.
DawnK - May 14, 2010 8:15:33 am PDT #11446 of 28706
giraffe mode
It was probably because The Diamond Age is unbelievably boring.
Jess, thanks! I always thought it was me that didn't "get" it.
-t - May 14, 2010 8:18:53 am PDT #11447 of 28706
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration
I love The Diamond Age!
I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, though, because I know my love for it is not shared by many.
It's hard to recommend a follow-up to Anathem at all, since Anathem is just the best thing Stephenson's done. Snow Crash is a good choice. I'd be interested to know how it reads to someone who has read other Stephenson, actually; a big part of my enjoyment of it was how different it was from anything else I'd read up to that point.
Steph L. - May 14, 2010 8:19:42 am PDT #11448 of 28706
That which does not kill you should RUN
NO!!!! The youngest has left it in his locker at SCHOOL!
Truly, you have a demon child. You may want to consider leaving him out of your will.
DawnK - May 14, 2010 8:27:44 am PDT #11449 of 28706
giraffe mode
You may want to consider leaving him out of your will
I told him that I was spending his half of the inheritance on travel when I retire now!