I missed out by not reading this in the ‘90s, but really glad I caught up.

This was an interesting dystopian vision as viewed from the 1990s. I'm sure this book had some effect on Zuckerberg's vision for the Metaverse. An interesting read with some plot holes, and a difficult connection between technology and ancient Sumerian.

This is the book. That is all.

If I didn’t know any better, I would have thought this was written by some self inserting weeb on tumblr or Twitter. The author wastes your time with info dumps and focusing on things that will never be important or brought up again. Which is why I was like “what…THATS IT?” When I realized I read the last page. I give it two stars for characters and humor. Though at some point the comedy just disappears. Even though it wasted my time, I don’t regret reading it. Just wish I didn’t buy it. I had to force myself to keep reading at 50% of the way and double secret force myself at 77%.

Few of the concepts that are the foundation of our real and current use of tech existed when this book was printed and released. In 1992, the only people using the internet at all were building it. I have a print copy of the first email I received in 1992…from researchers in Antarctica. Mosaic was just a thought, and Netscape and Google were inventing spiders. I can’t emphasize how much this book influenced all that followed. Especially the relationship to hardwired language. It’s interesting to read comments from people who are likely approaching their 40’s, who can’t see why nerds like me recognized the info on language as the key to many puzzles unsolved at the time. I bless Stephenson’s ability to create an entire cosmos that became real because he shared it, and it was good.

Ahh I now feel much more cultured after reading this lol

This book was quite fun, silly, and informative. The author dives into the basic concepts of language and how that parallels to our current understanding of computer science. There are references to ancient sumarian concepts, and exciting ideas about how the future of humanity will play out. All in all a terrific read

Book holds up well and would enjoy a sequel to this universe.

Very imaginative with great character development and unexpected twists. Theories on ancient languages and direct input brain short circuiting add a very bizarre mysticism. Recent disregard for law and order, unchecked immigration/invasion and power hungry technocrats carried to ultimate outcomes.

This book is worth the hype.