Canadian-Literature : Quicksilver

Quicksilver

CDN$ 12.50


In Quicksilver, the first volume of the Baroque Cycle, Neal Stephenson launches his most ambitious work to date. The novel, divided into three books, opens in 1713 with the ageless Enoch Root seeking Daniel Waterhouse on the campus of what passes for MIT in eighteenth-century Massachusetts. Daniel, Enoch s message conveys, is key to resolving an explosive scientific battle of preeminence between Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz over the development of calculus. As Daniel returns to London aboard the Minerva, readers are catapulted back half a century to recall his years at Cambridge with young Isaac. Daniel is a perfect historical witness. Privy to Robert Hooke s early drawings of microscope images and with associates among the English nobility, religious radicals, and the Royal Society, he also befriends Samuel Pepys, risks a cup of coffee, and enjoys a lecture on Belgian waffles and cleavage-—,all before the year 1700. In the second book, Stephenson introduces Jack Shaftoe and Eliza. Half-Cocked Jack (also know as the King of the Vagabonds) recovers the English Eliza from a Turkish harem. Fleeing the siege of Vienna, the two journey across Europe driven by Eliza s lust for fame, fortune, and nobility. Gradually, their circle intertwines with that of Daniel in the third book of the novel. The book courses with Stephenson s scholarship but is rarely bogged down in its historical detail. Stephenson is especially impressive in his ability to represent dialogue over the evolving worldview of seventeenth-century scientists and enliven the most abstruse explanation of theory. Though replete with science, the novel is as much about the complex struggles for political ascendancy and the workings of financial markets. Further, the novel s literary ambitions match its physical size. Stephenson narrates through epistolary chapters, fragments of plays and poems, journal entries, maps, drawings, genealogic tables, and copious contemporary epigrams. But, caught in this richness, the prose is occasionally neglected and wants editing. Further, anticipating a cycle, the book does not provide a satisfying conclusion to its 900 pages. These are minor quibbles, though. Stephenson has matched ambition to execution, and his faithful, durable readers will be both entertained and richly rewarded with a practicum in Baroque science, cypher, culture, and politics. --Patrick O Kelley

Dizzying Brilliance - This was the first Neal Stephenson book I ever read, and I adored it! I gobbled up The Confusion and The System of the World immediately, and only after finishing The Baroque Trilogy did I read Cryptonomicon or Snow Crash. Frankly, I found Cryptonomicon and Snow Crash to be maddeningly brief ... good, but short. I m confounded when reviewers say it was too long, too involved, or too detailed -- I don t think Stephenson could have told such a vivid account of European politics, economy and alchemy with a lesser word count. Here is a grand arena where his genius for research, synthesis and imagination really shines. The Baroque Trilogy is a work of generous amplitude, to cut out parts or render it down into a shorter novel would have made it a lesser tale.

Can t wait for the second book - I should probably preface this review by saying that I am a Neal Stephenson fan. I have read and enjoyed all of other books prior to reading this one, so it should come as no surprise that I enjoyed this novel as well.It did however take me about 50 or 70 pages to get in to the novel. At first I found the plot to be very slow moving, with lots of confusing names and not a lot happening. Dull and boring are two words that come to mind. But if you can get past the first 70 pages, the novel slowly starts to develop a story line that by the time the book is finished has left you eagerly looking forward to the next book.I do not want to give away too much of the novel and spoil it for any of the readers out there. But I will say this. Don t be discouraged by the size of the novel (900+ pages). Do stick it out, and read the whole novel, as you will be rewarded for it. And finally, if any of the history that took place in England in the 1600s is of interest to you, then this book should definitely make it on to your reading list.

Great read!!! - I would love to give you a general idea of the story, but I m afraid that the 900+ pages which comprise this ",slender", volume make it impossible to put it in a nutshell. As one review claims, «this one will defy any category, genre, precedent, or label.» Simply put, Neil Stephenson s Quicksilver is in a class of its own.The scope of Stephenson s undertaking is staggering. To proclaim that it is an ambitous project would be insulting. The amount of research that undoubtedly went into the creation of this historical epic makes me shake my head in wonder.What is it about? Hmmm, truth be told, it would be impossible to tell in a way that would do justice to the novel. It is about politics: the 1600s were a time or turmoil all over Europe, with many wars, revolutions, and other conflicts. It is astonishingly remarkable to see how the author depicts this era in such a richly detailed fashion. It is about history: Quicksilver contains more historical figures than most history books. It is about religion: Catholicism and Protestantism clashing all over the continent. It is about scientific breakthroughs: Newton, Hooke, Wren, Huygens, Leibniz, Locke, and so many others are part of the tale. You might have to consult wikipedia.com or another encyclopedia in order to keep track of everyone. Another one of Stephenson s tour de force is that the fine line between fact and fiction is seamless.To say that Quicksilver is brilliant would be like stating that Harvard and Oxford are good universities. It goes beyond that. Yes, it is a dense and erudite yarn. It is also an enthralling adventure, clever and at times hilarious.Stephenson possesses a witty sense of humor which gives this book a brazen, sometimes irreverent feel. It is so refreshing, and keeps you turning to pages to find out what happens next.Having said all that, I don t believe that Quicksilver is as accessible as Brown s The Da Vinci Code. Enough research went into this creation to make it a scholarly work. Hence, I believe that one must at least have basic notions of that historical period, as well as an inkling of those religious conflicts, in order to truly appreciate this novel at its just value.The characterizations are of the first order. And Stephenson s wit makes their POVs bring smirks to your lips, when you don t laugh out loud. Jack Shaftoe, ",Half-Cocked Jack", (no pun intended!), brings a lot of humor, tempering the serious side of this ambitious epic with interludes of pure fun!So by all means plunge into this historical saga. This is the sort of series that people will still be talking about in a decade. Follow the adventures of Daniel Waterhouse, thinker and Puritan, seeking knowledge among the greatest European minds of that era. Follow Jack Shaftoe s misadventures, which more or less begin when he rescues Eliza from a Turkish Harem in Vienna. And follow Eliza s own adventures, as she becomes a spy and an agent for and against the most powerful rulers and nobles of Europe.As I mentioned before, Quicksilver is not for everyone. But love it or hate it, this book remains one thing: a work of pure genius. I will eagerly read its sequel, The Confusion. Hopefully it will live up to the hype and the standards set by its predecessor.I know that Quicksilver is in many people s ",books to read", pile. If that is the case, please move it to the top of the pile. For everyone else, this one should be added to your ",books to buy", list!,-)Check out my blog: www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com

Detailed but turgid - I had great expectations for this book, having read all of Neal Stephenson s previous books, but was disappointed by this. Although he has obviously invested immense hours in research, the book comes across as stiff and overly ornate - much like baroque design.In particular, Stephenson s smart-alecky dialogue, that worked to great effect in Snow Crash, is merely grating here, as are the anachronisms that the characters utter from time to time.As for the characters themselves, I found it very difficult to care about any of them, which made it very difficult to involve myself in the story.I really had to wonder what the benefit was of creating a gargantuan work that appeared to say so little, as if mere volume could substitute for depth.

hmmm, are you with me? - well, I ve read quicksilver and have found it to be, um, interesting. I fell in another love trance (i ve read crytonomicon, obviously!) due to the historological background that Mr. Neal uses (apparently some historological profs may disagree on the accuracy, but I can easily disregard scholars when i read my books on my free time!).Overall, I found the book to remind me of the first time i tasted coffee, the first time i had a beer. Basically I wasn t too sure what to think on the first read, but now that i am into the first 200 pages of his next book, the confusion, all i can say is that i am thirsty for more. an aquired taste if you will...




Quicksilver