Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with nealstephenson

What Neal Stephenson work should I read next?

alms — Tue, 05 May 2009 18:54:15 -0800

I read and very much enjoyed The Diamond Age. What work(s) by Neal Stephenson should I read next? I recently purchased a remaindered copy of Cryptonomicon. Should I read that, or is there some other work (or set of works) by NS that I should get to next?

I doubt I'll read everything he's written, so I'd like to optimize what I do read.

Women writers like Neal Stephenson, are there any?

exceptinsects — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 21:24:03 -0800

Women writers like Neal Stephenson, are there any? I love the way his books seem to be such a reflection of what he is interested in and wants to write about, and how he is perfectly willing to take 900 pages to explore whatever he feels like. Like, a lot of other writers would take out that section in Anathem about the folding chairs, or in Cryptonomicon about the cereal, etc. but those are some of my favorite parts.

Infinite Jest has a lot of this kind of thing too, (plus footnotes, yay).

However, lately I just feel like reading more women authors. No special reason, I guess.

So: long, digressive, complicated, somewhat humorous, fun novels that teach you stuff you didn't know about...but written by women?

How to buy a book early

headlessagnew — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:48:30 -0800

I'm headed out of the country for three weeks, and I'd like to buy the new Neal Stephenson book a few days in advance of its release. So next week the new Neal Stephenson book -- "Anathem" -- is being released. I am headed overseas for about three weeks, and I'd really like to save a cubic foot or so in my carry-on for this book. Unfortunately, my flight leaves on Saturday!

My question to you, Metafilter: is there any hope of buying this book a few days early? (It'd have to be Friday.) Pertinent details: I live in Palo Alto, CA, and I am willing to drive around to snag it. How would I go about persuading somebody to break the sell-date? Any place in specific I should try?

Thanks!

How to pronounce Stephenson

spasm — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:14:38 -0800

How does author Neal Stephenson pronounce his last name? I've always assumed it's like "Steven-son", but recently somebody who might know claimed it's like "Stephan-son."
Anybody know for sure?

Is Cory Doctorow Worth a damn?

humannaire — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:45:46 -0800

Who to read besides Coupland, Stephenson, Gibson, and Sterling? I need an informational intake of this sort of highly-regarded (speculative? cyber?) fiction on a regular basis, or else I become irritable.

One other thing, I prefer contemporary writers who have produced notable work post-'01.

Solve the pattern: Patrick O'Brian, Alan Furst, Neal Stephenson... who comes next?

It ain't over yet — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 18:47:39 -0800

Solve the pattern: Patrick O'Brian, Alan Furst, Neal Stephenson... who comes next? Fiction rec please! I'm looking for smart, fun fiction that is also smart, while still being fun. The writers mentioned, I think, all fit in this category. What's more, while not exactly genre fiction, they all bring the reader into an interesting and well-researched world. What other writers belong in this category? Many thanks indeed for any suggestions!

Where's my cyberdollars?

greytape — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 10:39:42 -0800

Will a online, untraceable, virtual currency reshape the world as we know it? And if so, why hasn't it happened yet? I firtst learnt about virtual currencies through Neal Stephenson novels. In 'Cryptomonicon' our heros are searching for a colossal amount of gold to use as collateral for starting such a currency. Then in 'The Diamond Age' it is mentioned that it was the use of such an untraceable currency that destroyed the nation state as it meant governments could no longer collect taxes. Exciting stuff.

However, I've since spent a bit of time googling the issue, and have discovered that while currencies like this do already exist, they haven't taken the world by storm. Has Stephenson's idea of virtual money changing the world simply been proven false, or are we still waiting for some technological piece in the puzzle? And what would be the advantages to such a currency anyway?

That dude needs a publicist.

sourwookie — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 06:16:10 -0800

Just because we gotta ask every couple of years: Anyone know what Neal Stephenson is up to lately? Any new works on the horizon? As usual, nothing on his website, no press releases anywhere.

post-baroque cycle reading

craniac — Thu, 09 Feb 2006 17:38:09 -0800

I've read everything by Neal Stephenson (and other cyberpunk authors) and most recently finished the baroque cycle. I am looking for recommendations for interesting historical fiction that has that same sort of feel--convoluted, anachronistic, sprawling, adventuresome, but not too adolescent. I need to leave science fiction for a while and need some direction. Thank you!

What is Neal Stephenson working on?

beautifulstuff — Sat, 26 Nov 2005 14:12:58 -0800

What is Neal Stephenson working on? In past interviews, Neal Stephenson mentioned that "Cryptonomicon" originally had past, present, and future storylines, but that the future storylines were left out and would eventually become their own books. Does anyone know if that's what he's working on right now?

How to find what a given author's next book will be?

GriffX — Tue, 01 Mar 2005 17:09:20 -0800

Inspired by this question, I found myself wondering - is there any way to find out what a given author's next book will be? Sort of like those 'screenplay sales' pages where it lists what a given production company has purchased, I guess.

Should I read Cryptonomicon before Quicksilver?

elsar — Wed, 29 Sep 2004 13:40:54 -0800

NealStephensonFilter: I just bought Quicksilver in the airport, am enjoying it, but curious if I should be reading Cryptonomicon first. Any opinions?

What am I missing about Neal Stephenson's Quicksilver?

heather — Tue, 09 Dec 2003 09:18:13 -0800

Quicksilver. What am I missing? (more)