My favorite Stephenson is Zodiac. It's short (relative to some of his other books), the plot moves along quickly, and the protagonist is all kindsa snarky.
You'll fight, and you'll shag, and you'll hate each other till it makes you quiver, but you'll never be friends.
Spike ,'Sleeper'
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."
Calli - Jun 28, 2010 8:30:34 am PDT #11619 of 28343
I must obey the inscrutable exhortations of my soul—Calvin and Hobbs
Polter-Cow - Jun 28, 2010 8:53:40 am PDT #11620 of 28343
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!
Definitely Snow Crash.
But I've only read that and Cryptonomicon.
Gudanov - Jun 28, 2010 9:08:16 am PDT #11621 of 28343
Coding and Sleeping
I've only read Snow Crash but it was a fun read, so I'm on board with that choice.
Steph L. - Jun 28, 2010 9:13:48 am PDT #11622 of 28343
this mess was yours / now your mess is mine
Okey-dokey. Snow Crash and Zodiac on hold at the library. Should be at my branch by Wednesday.
I think I'll read The Diamond Age when I get back.
Hayden - Jun 28, 2010 9:17:31 am PDT #11623 of 28343
aka "The artist formerly known as Corwood Industries."
I didn't much care for either Snow Crash or The Diamond Age, but I liked Cryptonomicon and the Baroque Trilogy quite a bit and Zodiac to a lesser extent. Just started Anathem last night, though, so no opinion yet.
Jessica - Jun 28, 2010 9:23:33 am PDT #11624 of 28343
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset
I'm about halfway through the doorstop trilogy right now, and while it's an enjoyable enough read, Anathem is the only recent Stephenson I've loved as much as his earlier (short, funny) books.
Volans - Jun 28, 2010 10:34:35 am PDT #11625 of 28343
move out and draw fire
I just read The Windup Girl , and for you cyberpunk fans who are looking for updated cyberpunk, here it is.
beth b - Jun 28, 2010 2:32:19 pm PDT #11626 of 28343
oh joy! Oh Rapture ! I have a brain!
JZ - Jun 28, 2010 3:03:25 pm PDT #11627 of 28343
See? I gave everybody here an opportunity to tell me what a bad person I am and nobody did, because I fuckin' rule.
Eeeeek! Eeeeee! I'm sitting at my desk flailing in delight. I just finished re-reading Deathly Hallows and why is it not November yet already?
The two things that it's going to break my heart to bits if they aren't included in the movies are Luna's beautiful mural with the word "Friends" in a golden chain connecting them all, and McGonagall saying crisply, "He has, to use the common phrase, done a bunk." Really, I want everything, but I really need those two bits. What about other Buffistas? What small moment is going to seriously hurt if they leave it out?
DavidS - Jun 28, 2010 3:07:35 pm PDT #11628 of 28343
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
Well, it looks like they're going to include every major scene, and some scenes that are only alluded to in the book.
For example, the train being stopped by a Deatheater is probably the scene where Luna gets kidnapped.
But yes, I'm very keen to see Luna's room.