Quicksilver discussion

I'm interested in other folks' reactions to The Baroque Cycle and the sweep of the trilogy. What were the bits that you liked? Did you skip over anything? I'd also love to re-read it and discuss chapter by chapter.

I'm reading it right now, and I'm quite enjoying it. I'm only a few chapters in though. I have a feeling that, much like Cryptonomicon, it'll take me some time to make my way through this group of novels.

I have to say that, like a lot of other Stephenson fans I know, in these and in Crypto. I tended to choose a particular character/story arc that I liked best and then to really look forward to reading it. For me, this was Roger Waterhouse, whose character I loved and whose adventures with 17th century natural philosophers were amazing. The parts with Jack Shaftoe, especially in Quicksilver, were less interesting, and I tended to skim these bits. I imagine that this just has a lot to do with what I am interested in personally... what about you Tamra?

Hi Jaime - Sorry for the tardiness of my response... The first time I read the trilogy, I was the opposite, paying more attention to the Shaftoe character (fun, swashbuckling, moves the plot along) and a bit bogged down by the Waterhouse character and the long parts about the Puritans and the natural philosophers. But the second time, I really loved the depth of information that Stephenson conveyed and it sent me down a lot of rabbit holes in regard to the history of science and mathematics. That era really came to life and it made me see our own advances in science and technology (and the social implications of those advances) in a new light. In Crypto, I really paid attention to the Waterhouse characters simply because I'm fascinated by cryptology. There just didn't seem to be the same depth to the Shaftoe characters.

About a month ago, I read Cryptonomicon; and this book lead me to an interest in the Baroque Cycle.

Right now, I'm almost done with Quicksilver. In places this book can be tedious. But my appreciation of those parts of this book which are really good, gives me the motivation to plow through that tedium. It also appears that the majority of Goodreads readers seem to really like the last two books of the trilogy. So I want the background I'm assuming is helpful for those next two books.

But the parts of this book that are good, are really good.

I would recommend first reading Baroque Cycle and then Cryptonomicon - more fun.

Glad to hear that! I read the Baroque Trilogy and have not yet Cryptonomicon! It took my breath away, so I needed a "Breather" I will read Crytonomicon soon I think.

Andrei wrote: "I would recommend first reading Baroque Cycle and then Cryptonomicon - more fun."

I am admittedly a science history geek. So its no surprise that I truly loved the whole cycle (and then later - the Cryptonomicon) . Stephenson can be a bit of wanderer, but the whole sweep of the story really blew me away. I especially loved the part (I think in System) where Leibniz and Newton were falling over hedges and farm equipment while being chased around the farm dog.

It's been a while, and as you know this cycle was BIG.

But what I always like best about Stephenson is what he doesn't say outright. When he writes back in time, every page seems to be an indictment of later generations, who think they invented everything worth having and are responsible for every major technological advance. His heroes always appreciate where we came from.

Highly recommended. Definitely stretched my knowledge of the Restoration period. Bone up on your history before dipping in,and you'll get more out of it.

And as usual, Neal spins a great tale.

I bought a copy of "The system of the world" in Copenhagen airport about eight years ago because I was travelling to Riyahd for work and I had nothing to read. I expected very little from the book, but it appeared to the best of a bad bunch. Now, I usually fall asleep within an hour of getting airborne because the air is so shitty (it not being circulated enough). This time, however, I started reading the book as soon as I got on tha plane. I think I was hooked after the first chapter. After that, every possible moment was spent reading the book and I finished it in less than two weeks.

I was irritated to find that "The System of the World" was the final binding of the Baroque Cycle, and that Quicksilver and The Confusion were the other two bindings. Subsequently I found The Confusion first and read that and then read The System of the World again. When I finally found Quicksilver I read that and then read the other two bindings one more time.

Now you might think that it was a chore reading Quicksilver once, The Confusion twice and The System of the World three times. It wasn't, I loved the books. Only one other author has ever come close to being as good as these, and that is the Master and Commander series by Patrick O'Brian.

By the way, I also read Cryptonomicon after the Baroque Cycle, and I enjoyed it that way too.

N.b. I use the word "bindings" because Neal Stephenson claims that more than one volume is included in each of the bindings.

I have to sat this is the one of if not the most enjoyable fiction I have ever read.It definitely prompts me to want to learn more about English history. After all the incredible detail on architecture, geography, layout of 17th century London that Stephenson delivers, I was surprised to find out he is an American.
I loved it all. The political intigue, the natural philosophers and the picaresque advetures of Half Cock Jack. I guess I enjoyed Waterhouse and the tight line he and the other Puritans had to walk in a restored monarchy full of Cavaliers.This was the first thing I ever read by Stephenson and realize it was a departure from his more cyber punk stories. He is an incredible writer and delivers in abundance what I look for in a trilogy of this size. A world you can actually crawl up into and get lost for a while.

Clay wrote: "I have to sat this is the one of if not the most enjoyable fiction I have ever read.It definitely prompts me to want to learn more about English history. After all the incredible detail on architec..."

I agree, it is fabulous. It also made me wish I had taken a lot more history classes in college.

I also reccomend "Cryptonomican" It was written 1st, but Chronicaly it happens centuries after The Baroque Cycle. As you read it, you will realize many similarities. Indeed, It concenrs the same family, both during WWII and in the 1980's or 90's.

Alan wrote: "I bought a copy of "The system of the world" in Copenhagen airport about eight years ago because I was travelling to Riyahd for work and I had nothing to read. I expected very little from the book,..."

I agree, they were fabulous.

True about there being different volumumes. The Baroque Cycle is either 8 moderate length novel, 3 huge novels, or 1 gargantuan novel, depending on how yo
u count it!

Jim wrote: "Clay wrote: "I have to sat this is the one of if not the most enjoyable fiction I have ever read.It definitely prompts me to want to learn more about English history. After all the incredible detai..."

I read everything by him once I finished the Baroque Cycle. While his cyberpunk stuff out c-punked William Gibson he had a bad tendency to abruptly end his novels. Snow Crash and The Diamond Age come to mind. These are both some of the most imaginative sci-fi I have ever read, but they end like hitting a brick wall. Crytonomicon isn't as bad, but after such rich storytelling detail, I could use a little denoument.

I've been through each of the cycle twice, and enjoyed it more each time. My favorite parts are those involving Eliza and the court of Louis XIV, a period of which I have particular interest.

My general feeling on books is that if I am enjoying the story, I want it to be a very long one.

I read Cryptonomicon later after finding a used coverless copy at a sidewalk bookseller in Bangkok. I think knowing something about the antecendents made this book more readable, as it is probably not a book I'd have chosen otherwise.

My son (sci-fi fan) told me that as an historian I would LOVE the Baroque Trilogy and he was right. Normally I don't enjoy when actual historical figures are injected into a story line but this was so well done and appealingly authentic that I couldn't complain. After I completed the cycle once, I read Crytonomicon and was amazed by the way that Stephenson was able to head backward in time to create the antecedents. Of the three books Quicksilver is my favorite probably because I read it first. Am now enjoying Reamde another enjoyable, educational readfest by Mr. Stepenson

I loved them all. I have to confess, I am a LITTLE intimidated by in by Anathem, it sounds like HARD sci fi. But then......I was a Lot intimidated by both the Baroque Cycle, and Crytonomicon and they were both fabulous, so I'll probably tackle it sometime. Reamde was a blast!,

Sorry, but I dont know where else to ask this: the characters keep abreviating The Royal Society to The IRS. What does the "i" stand for? This is driving me nuts trying to find the answer without result

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