[TheForge] Re: Pickling solutions OT Neal Stephenson

[Steve Smith]

Mike Spencer wrote:

> Getting waayyy off topic...
> 
> Is anybody else working their way through Neal Stephenson's fat books?
> 
>    Cryptonomicon
>    Quicksilver
>    The Confusion
>    The System of the World
> 
> Came to mind because of the theme of quicksilver that appears in
> passing in the first one and runs like shiny thread through the
> others.  The last three have a hilarious take on Robert Hooke, Newton,
> Leibnitz, Loius XIV, William of Orange and others.  The making of
> Wootz steel and "watered steel blades" come into the story briefly.
> There's one amusing scene in a blacksmith's shop in 17th c. Paris.
> 
> - Mike

I'm working on them. I'm quite sure that I'm only skimming the surface, 
but it is an interesting and very detailed surface. The sort of books 
you take your time with.

While The Confusion was still in the mail, I started reading The Diamond 
Age, which is also good. Zodiac was clearly an early effort.

Steve