Neal Stephenson?

[michaelsnyder]

Okay, a good friend is telling me that I just HAVE to read some Neal Stephenson. Although I plan to do just that...I have a problem. The only books I've seen at the library are LOOOOOONNNNGGG. I love long books, but I'm mid-way through one now and finished one recently. And I've learned that reading a lot of long books actually hampers my writing (long story...pun intended).

So...any Stephenson fans out there willing to chime in and tell me what to read first?

Thanks!

Mike

[GTafuro]

You, my friend are in for a treat. The guy is talented, funny, memorable and descriptive. He's like a modern day Victor Hugo, but less French.

The only book I read from him was Cryptonomicon. Excellent, but very, very long. Quicksilver is the book that gets the most acclaim, I would begin there. The paperback waits on my bookshelf and holds 450 pages. Pretty standard novel length. I haven't read it, but from what I have read of his it promises to be good.

[Margaret D.]

I like long novels, but I must admit I gave up on Quicksilver, after having looked forward to it with much relish. The story is complicated, but I've enjoyed other novels with complicated plots. I think I just didn't connect with the protagonist. Stephenson writes very vividly, so I think this is one you will either like from the beginning or not - give it a whirl and see.

Some writers avoid reading novels similar to their own while they're actively working on a first draft, in order to avoid unconsciously imitating another author's style. I suppose a very long novel would expose one to the author's style over a longer period, and thus increase the likelihood of being influenced in this way. Reading something written in a style or about a subject radically different from one's own ought to decrease the risk. Or did you mean that you spend too much time reading and neglect your writing?

[ProfessorAlan]

I enjoyed Cryptonomicon, but I don't mind long books.