Rating: 
Summary: The novel which we have been waiting for
Review: You must read "The Big U", Stephenson's first novel. It is no longer in print, but when I read it years ago, I immediately recognized his potential. I have impatiently awaited each succeeding novel. With each additional novel, Stephenson has enhanced the power with which he grasps our attention. Cryptonomicon is an important novel, not only to its own genre, but to literature as a whole. On the surface it is an entertaining story, told in two different time periods, while the underlying story addresses our own cultural evolution and value systems. My only complaint? It just wasn't long enough! I ran out of pages with the sense that the story couldn't end yet.
Rating: 
Summary: Splendid read, absolutely riveting, but the ending ??
Review: As noted above, a great book, a great read and very stimulating. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the whole essence of the book, but as noted by some other reviewers, the ending kind of "damp squibbed" me a bit. I didn't want to finish it; I do hope he writes a sequel - but will it actually tell us where the story is going?The crypto is excellent and the use of the first person really draws you into the book; however Andrew Loeb's character is sorely underused and relatively unexplained and then completely discarded, and the germans in the book get a poor run (Rudy and Bischoff; did he survive?) Ah, well, still a great book and well worth the extra shipping to read in the UK before it gets out here. Buy it and see for yourself.
Rating:
Summary: This was a wonderful read.
Review: Neal Stephenson is a very fine author with talent to spare. In many of the other reviews I read here people complained about his ending ... well I will buy that. However: the read was worth it. In fact, I would have been content had there been another 900+ pages ... that is how amazing this man's writing is, how interesting his characters are and how fascinating the subject material he covers is. It will be hell waiting another two years for him to gift us with another book, whether or not it relates to the current release.
Rating:
Summary: Ruined my weekend... a real page turner
Review: I'm now 1/2 through the book and it is very difficult to follow the story after 3 am. This is a great book and you just won't be able to put it down. The author does a great job of weaving technology into the story.
Rating:
Summary: An engrossing, intellectual novel
Review: From the onset of this novel I was engrossed. The characters are slow to develop but part of the enjoyment of reading is the depth that they develop as the story builds. I found the description of cryptography to be very interesting and mathematically stimulating. Not a light read for the beach. More likely something to keep at bedside or on long journeys. This is a novel that will appeal to left brain thinkers.
Rating: 
Summary: Talk about overblown!
Review: This book is fine. Nothing spectacular about it. Those who have compared Stephenson's now more digressive style to Pynchon or Dilillo are either big fans of Stephenson, or are intentionally denegrating postmodernism. This book reads like any other long and well researched piece of genre fiction. Comparisons to Clancy are apt. It's unlikely that anyone will be dazzled by Stephenson's wit or his genius, though they may eventually be bored by his plodding and repetitive and relatively simplistic style. I wish this book had lived up to it's press. We need another Great American Author -- unfortunately Stephenson isn't it.
Rating: 
Summary: Cryptonomicon is a man's book.
Review: Cryptonomicon is a great book that will appeal to half the population of the US. Men are smart. Men are changing the world. But - where are the women? I can understand that in WW2, a novelist would need to concentrate on the masculine agenda to get some action, but why in the near-now world? The story line is fun, fast. Changing from WW2 to present is intriguing, leaving the reader to assimulate generational interrelations. But, still, I found the relatios between the male/female characters in the near-now world lacking. Men, especially "nerdy" men, will completely enjoy this book. Women, some nerdy women, will like it, too. Most women and many non-"nerdy" men will see a huge lack in the character development, especially for the female characters. Personally, I liked the Avi character. If I had met someone like theat in my (somewhat limited) career, I could have worked for him (or her) forever. I wish there were more Avi-like people around, smart enough to make a difference and interested more in making things right than in making money. Still, even though I liked the book, I would have to give it a 3/5, since it will not reach a large (book reading!) part of the population. Neal, if you're reading this, develop your female characters, and the relations with the males more, and you'll sell even better. "Snow Crash" was better along these lines, although the story for this one was better in many other ways. Keep writing. Phil
Rating:
Summary: Crypto and Paranoia transcend time
Review: The cover itself is enough to grab you. The real fun however starts when you read the first page. Stephenson jumps between WWII and the present. This book could easily be 2 books. Since both stories are interesting and gripping. ------------------------------------------------ The WWII story gives you a tremendous background and understanding of what is happening in the modern world, in the book. Waterhouse and Shaftoe are the main characters in both books and in both times. The Waterhouses in both times underestimate what they are capable of simply because the world hasn't quite caught up to them yet. The Shaftoe's in both books are confident and capable because of what life has asked them to deal with. In both books and in both times they make an incredible combination. The stors(ies) is(are) compelling enough to keep you turning the pages. Stephenson is an amazing example of what one can do when you love the language you are writing in. As he so obviously does. This keeps the story interesting and you want to know what happens. I am looking forward to reading his previous novels and his future novels.
Rating:
Summary: A mediocre book in which all the characters sound the same.
Review: A book that really disappointed me, after reading his article in WIRED about the mechanics of running cable underwater (which was great) I thought this book would be a classic.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty well written, wondewrful computer details
Review: First, I want to say I loved this book. I couldn't put it down, and the computer and crypto details made the novel truly interesting. The characters were deep and drew me into the story. However, the ending was the only part I didn't like. I thought that while the book was well-written overall, it lacked closure at the end. After reading 910 pages in about 24 hours, I wanted to hear that all the characters were happy, and that the business venture succeeded, etc. I felt like an epilogue or something would have been nice, just to give a sense of finality. The interview says that this novel is the first of a series. If there isn't more about the characters, I'm going to be rather disappointed.
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