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PaperclipPerfector  1d ago (text post)   1543 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for August 30, 2026

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Currently on Seveneves. So far my least favorite Stephenson book, but I guess I'm comparing it to Diamond Age, Snow Crash, and Cryptonomicron, probably two of which are in my "top 10 books I've read" list. It's okay, about a third of the way through. Feels very much "of its time" (2008 2015): drops Internet references (Reddit/YouTube), and two of the characters seem obvious NDT and Elon Musk ("when he was still cool") stand-ins. No questions asked international cooperation. It's long (800+ pages). Not exactly a slog, but I'm tempted to set it aside for something more interesting. Thinking As I Lay Dying, since I've found I like "in the style of Faulkner" AI memes.

Previous was True Grit, which is a short read I'd recommend. Might watch the movies at some point.

Seveneves also had stand-ins for Hilary Clinton (probably the most entertaining of them), Cory Doctorow, and Malala Yousafzai. Doob-NdGT was one of the more obvious ones, for sure. Probst was half Musk, but with elements of other CEOs.

I'm a massive Stephenson fan and would agree that the Cryptonomicon/Snow Crash/Diamond Age trilogy are my favorites. I've read each of those probably ten times. Aside from that, the Baroque Cycle is amazing. Liked Anathem and am maybe ready for a re-read.

At some point he hit his 'every book must have a hypercompetent hyperintelligent black woman' phase which doesn't work for me.

Oh, one marginal suggestion: Interface with George is actually mostly pretty classic Stephenson, from the good years. Been meaning to try Cobweb again though it's thrown me twice.

I quite enjoyed Cryptonomicon. Own Snow Crash but haven’t gotten around to it. Haven’t read most of his others. Favorite is definitely Anathem, though.

It is funny that he keeps featuring international cooperation. I’d say it reminds me of Cixin Liu’s (frustrating) series, except the attitude is so completely different. Hmm.

I remember enjoying Faulkner as part of a Moby-Dick course. You should read that one, if you haven’t.

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