Rating: 
Summary: Historical fiction + Action/Adventure + Comedy
Review: If you have read any other reviews, you know that this book could have used a more stringent editor, and you know that it is very long. You may also have read that some plot lines disappear, or that some obvious questions remained unanswered by the books ending. All these things are true. However, if you like historical fiction, or action/adventure books, you will probably like this one. I loved the way this book blended strong historical references with fiction, and the way it was woven together with a '90's plotline. I like most of the characters, although they were not written with deep volume. Actually, it is a tribute to the scope and pace of this book that I did not object to the characters that were nothing more than vague outlines. There are some implausibilities, such as, how a group of people, or descendants of this group, so intricately laced together during WW2, could, almost randomly, reunite in the '90s without it becoming obvious to everyone involved. Every book has its flaws. The scope, pace, and subject of this book worked well enough for me to overlook, what, in the end are minor flaws. Stephenson has written a book that is exciting, informative, and suprisingly funny. At times, to me, it was gut-busting-teary-eyed-laugh-out-loud funny (i.e. pages 511-528.) Do not let the size or negative reviews scare you off. Despite the flaws I have mentioned above, this book is worth reading. So Read It.
Rating: 
Summary: heard it all before but...
Review: Like all the other Stephenson books I've read, I get the feeling that I've read this book before. I just can't put my finger on where. Beyond the feeling that this work isn't original, it is a fun read. While I never loved the characters, and the plot never dazzled me, it was alot better than any other book I've read in awhile.
Rating:
Summary: Blew Me Away
Review: In Short, this book blew me away. How he thought of this I'll never know, but he is clearly more brilliant than I. I've been told this is a "guy" book, but it also appeals to "chicks" in the Silicon Valley. This is a must read and goes to the top of any list I recommend to others.
Rating:
Summary: Got me hooked by the 4th page.
Review: I usually wait for a book to engross me for around 30 pages, or maybe a hundred, if it is a recommendation... Reading Cryptonomicon caught my interest right after the 4th page. I could not wait to know what happened to both stories (WWII and present). I did not find the book to be too technical. I am a computer scientist, and I think the explanations on the book for the cryptographic issues are some of the clearest I have found anywhere, and that is in part what I really enjoyed. The other enjoyable part is the stretching of current technology to the point where you can't really tell what is real and what is an exaggeration.
Rating:
Summary: A tough but good read
Review: This was a great book, the story takes place in the past during WWII with a code breaker for the Army and his grandson in the present who deals with encryption and computers. Some of the book can get very technical and it is very long, but it is worth it! It also contains a lot of history that I found very interesting, but I was a little disappointed in the ending which fell a little flat.
Rating:
Summary: Stephenson's assessment of the Philippines
Review: As this book is largely set in the Philippines, Stephenson naturally provided some insights into the Filipino people, culture, and country. I won't add to the voluminous praises on Cryptonomicon -- plot, knowledge of subject matter etc. Just one point not much mentioned; Stephenson's accuracy and insight into the Philippines. Straight from a Pinoy, the author did a remarkable effort in describing the country and the socio-cultural nuances. Sharp as a blade funny (with the rapier thrust of Stepehenson's wit) and many times a telling, awkward, introspective, and heartwarming reminder of what we, Filipinos, are as a people. For that alone, it is worth a read.
Rating: 
Summary: Could've been a Great Book
Review: This book had all the ingredients of a great novel. A set of plots woven together well and coming together nicely at the end, developed characters, and most of all some great info on the history of cryptology and World War II in both the Pacific and European theaters. The big disappointment was that after all that work weaving a great tale, Stephenson felt the need to insert absolutely pointless vulgarity at frequent random intervals. It's as if he woke up on some days and said, "Hey, I'd like to have... spoken over and over in my novel, by Japanese, no less." He has a real fixation on semen and other gross topics more appropriate to rest room walls. Perhaps he felt lacing his novel with profanity and gutter talk would somehow put him into the ranks of Wolfe and Clancy. I just know that I was extremely sorry that I couldn't give the book to my young son to read--he could've learned a lot and enjoyed the experience. A good story. An the author is free to write as he pleases. This is just a warning to readers.
Rating:
Summary: Great for computer expert or novice
Review: I'm not a hard-core coding nerd, but I'm starting to learn and I do work for a software company, so I'm not totally lost in techno-speak. And I LOVED this book! Great story...and it made me think too! I imagine this book works better and better the more of a geek you are, but I would even encourage someone just getting into computers to read it. As I said, it is a great story and even if you can't read the PERL script in one part of the book (which I couldn't) you'll still love the book!
Rating:
Summary: I LOVED it; you should read it.
Review: Having avoided Neal Stephenson like the plague for some time (lumping him with William Gibson, whose books I despise), I just read SNOW CRASH, then CRYPTONOMICON in quick succession, and LOVED both. CRYPTONOMICON is long as heck, but a real page-turner. Sure, it's fragmented, but the multiple plot lines DO merge, into a wonderfully geek-oriented romp through history, intrigue, and the art and science of cryptography. This is fun fiction writing at its best -- a great story with humorous, light writing and an engaging style. As a software developer with some experience in crypto, I found it interesting that Bruce Schneier (author of APPLIED CRYPTOGRAPHY) developed the crypto system used within the book (described as an appendix). Geeks of my sort will find lots to love here, as will those with a Libertarian bent (strong privacy advocation throughout). Fun, fast, and good, it's one of my favorite light books.
Rating:
Summary: Dot-com meets Catch-22
Review: Anyone who has ever worked for or with a start-up cannot help but appreciate this book. The plot may border on absurd at times, but the subplots and actions of the protagonists in the modern thread of the story are like something right out of the valley. As someone who works for a dot-com, I had instant sympathy for the characters. Other people who are not familiar with IPOs, start-ups and the nearly surreal world of tech, may not appreciate the modern story line except in how it ties the two threads together. The parallel anachronistic thread having to do with code breaking and intelligence in WWII was a richly absurd plot as well with a definite Catch-22 flavor to it. However, the characters were deeper and more interesting. Stephenson tied the WWII thread to enough historical fact to make the story riveting and believable, and the links to the modern thread were a wonderful literary tool. The Cryptonomicon faded about 80% of the way through and sputtered to the finish line, which is why I can only give it four stars. I would enthusiastically read another Neal Stephenson book, but I thought the ending to this very enjoyable book left too many questions unanswered and abruptly closed what was an excellent story. As a stylistic note, I believe that the nearly constant chatter about the sexual needs of the male characters was distracting and did not add to the story. It was a useful mechanism within the story to explain some of the actions of the characters, but it was overdone. If you read this book, please follow with Singh's "The Code Book." It gives the history of cryptography and will fill in the details of both the modern and WWII threads of the book.
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