Reamde

So after marathoning through the last two hundred pages, I'm finally done. I feel like I've run an actual marathon whilst some one was occasionally punching me in the head. I got really excited about this book and tried to explain it to people, but then had to stop because of course there is no way at all to summarize this book. The dust jacket does a terrible job of it, and I ended up with a very different book than I expected. The only other Stephenson book that I've read is “Anathem” which is such a slow burn I have a hard time believing these are the same authors (other than the intense attention to seemingly minor details).

I expected a lot more sci-fi and gaming elements, but really the game is only one very small piece and a massive 3D puzzle. I don't normally read a lot of thrillers because they stress me out, and boy did this one stress me out. Stephenson is a master of, “How could this possibly get any worse?” These poor characters catch not a single damn break until the final show down. And you, the reader, like these characters. You like cool calculating Sokolov and nerd master Marlon and enterprising Zula and really the whole cast of “good guys.” There's a million points when you think, “Ah, so this is how they will finally escape and be okay,” but nope! There's still 600 pages of horrible, horrible things, so strap in.

Stephenson did a helluva lot of research for this book, and I can't speak to the accuracy of any of it since I have approximately zero experience with Russian Mafia, Islamic terrorists, guns, MMORGs, or mountain lions. That said, I feel pretty damn well educated now. That said, I sometimes felt a little too educated, especially when getting into the details of T'rain. I might have made it through this book in decent time without the in depth look at T'rain's geology, politics, and economics, but then the whole thing might have felt a bit more like a cheap plot device.

If I have a criticism, it might be that the ending is a little too pat. The various couples hooking up, especially Sokolov and Olivia whom I appreciated more as a James Bond one time deal than a long term thing and the only good guy death being dear sacrificial lamb Uncle John. Like other books with super happy endings though, I'm just so relieved everyone is okay that I would likely feel upset and angry if they didn't get a happy ending.

This book is in no way for the faint of heart, but if you have a lot of time on your hand and don't mind wrapping your brain around some of the cruelest plot twists in fiction, give this one a go.