BOOKS QUICKSILVER
“Genius. (That’s right, I’m using the g-word.) . . . You’ll wish it were longer.”
“[A] warm, loamy novel of ideas, adventure, science and politics . . . The great trick of Quicksilver is that it makes you ponder concepts and theories you initially think you’ll never understand, and it’s greatest pleasure is that Stephenson is such an enthralling explainer . . . Stephenson’s new machine is a wonderment to behold. A-”
“Neal Stephenson rewrites history – for the dark prince of hacker fiction, looking backward is another way of seeing the future.”
“Because of his subject matter, Stephenson won’t lose his usual science-lovers. He’ll pick up some history buffs as well, and his quirky characters, zestful pace, and wryly humorous tone will charm almost everyone else. . . . Stephenson’s aim is more than an entertaining account of remarkable personalities. Quicksilver’s panoramic view encompasses the bitter religious and political struggles which gave rise to the scientific way of thought. Quicksilver is a sprawling, engrossing tale.”
“Quicksilver . . . tosses its three main characters into the bubbling cauldron of science and intrigue that Stephenson, like a mad alchemist, has cooked up in his lab. . . . [A] swashbuckling pirate battle, for example, dares any reader to put down the novel and gives . . . the decadent pacing of a beach thriller."
“Sprawling, irreverent, and ultimately profound.”
“Quicksilver infuses old-school science and engineering with a badly needed dose of swashbuckling adventure, complete with a professor-versus-the-pirates battle at sea. Who knew the Natural Philosophers were so cool?”
“Sparkling prose, subtle humor, and a superb knowledge of the period makes this grand feast of a novel a mandatory choice . . . highly recommended.”
“We expect nothing less from Neal Stephenson than sustained ecstatic zaniness. . . . As seen through Stephenson’s eyes the late 17th century is endlessly fascinating, and so is the focus on the intersection of religion and science. . . . The late 17th century saw an explosion of intellectual brilliance that resembles nothing so much as it does an overflow from a boiling cauldron. So does Quicksilver.”
“Stephenson, once best known for his techno-geek SF novel Snow Crash, skillfully reimagines empiricists Newton, Hooke and Leibniz, and creatively retells the birth of the scientific revolution. He has a strong feel for history and a knack for bringing settings to life. Expect high interest in this title, as much for its size and ambition, which make it a publishing event, as for its sales potential - which is high.”
“The joy of entering le monde Stephenson is that of surrender. Give up any and all preconceived notions of historical consistency, linear scientific progress, and fail-safe happy endings, and you’ll enjoy the ride . . . you’ll be begging for more.”