Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson was on my radar for a long time. I originally added to my 2017 reading list. I carried it through to my 2020 reading list, where it finally percolated to the top. When I opened the book on my Kindle, I was taken aback by the length – over 900 pages! Having already slogged through Peter Hamilton’s Pandora’s Star earlier that year, I couldn’t bring myself to read another tome of this length. So it languished on my reading list until the second half of 2023, when I finally decided to take the plunge. I knew I would have to eventually given how highly recommended it came from some close friends.
There are two distinct plots in the book that are set in different times. One takes place during World War 2 while the other takes place in the present day.
The World War 2 timeline is a fictional account of how the Allies broke the Enigma code used by the Germans, and how they hid that fact from them. The story is loosely based on actual events that took place during the War. Stephenson does an outstanding job of using these events and his characters to create a believable story about how events could have unfolded around the war and influenced its outcome.
The modern day timeline is about a group of people who are attempting to create a cryptocurrency. Bear in mind that Stephenson wrote the story before cryptocurrency and Bitcoin were a thing. Stephenson raises some excellent points about the benefits of cryptocurrency along with its viability. He also reinforces one of the biggest issues I have with current cryptocurrencies. There’s really nothing backing them outside of hope. It’s topic for another rant post, but it’s the thesis that drives the motivations of the characters in the present day timeline.
The coolest thing about the book is the way Stephenson concludes the book by bridging the events of the two timelines. It’s classic Stephenson at his storytelling best.
My main beef with the book was its length. The book has its high points, but there are also spots where material fills like filler and does little to move the plot along or develop the characters. In other words, there were a number of slow spots that I had to plow through to make it to the reward at the end.
Overall, it’s a good book. I really like Stephenson. He is a master storyteller. And I have nothing against Cryptonomicon. It’s an impressive work with a complex plot that Stephenson somehow holds together for over 900 pages. It’s just a slower read than what I like. If you’re new to Stephenson, I’d recommend starting out with one of his other works, such as Snow Crash. If you’re already a Stephenson fan, then Cryptomicon is worth the effort.