you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 48 points 1 year ago (14 children)

This is my favorite opening line:

The moon blew up without warning and for no apparent reason.

  • Neal Stephenson, Seveneves
  • source
  • hideshow 14 child comments
  • [–] 35 points 1 year ago (9 children)

    He may know how to start a book but he can't end one to save his life.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 9 child comments
  • [–] 6 points 1 year ago (7 children)

    His older books ended pretty well IMO. It was only the later books where they sometimes make a major turn near the end and get nuts. I sometimes enjoy the craziness of it, but Seveneves was particularly jarring.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 7 child comments
  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago (6 children)

    I disagree, cryptonomicon's ending just comes out of left field with the introduction of a new character at the end of the book.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 6 child comments
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    I honestly couldn't finish it.

    It changed from an excellent comedy at the start, to a spy thriller, to a war action movie and then to some kind of tech-startup biography.

    Insane changes in pace. Did I miss a good ending then? I've got about 20% left.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (2 children)

    Fair point, I forgot about cryptonomicon's ending. I guess Stephenson has been pulling this forever.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    I want to love his books, he build such interesting worlds and stories, but the ending disappoints almost every time

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    Thanks for the reminder to get back on the waiting list at my library. I’ve been trying on and off for years to read this

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago

    I really do recommend it. Just know that the end is basically a separate novella, that is completely different in tone. I would suggest giving it some time at the least before you read the last of it at the least.

  • source
  • parent