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[frank]

I've just found this guy.   He's sort of like a thinking man's Dan Simmons. (And Dan's a thinking man's Stephen King.  (And King is a thinking man's, I don't know who.  Someone with a brain, at least.))

I'm having so much fun with, "Anathem."

This is what science fiction can be when you put interesting topics into a great plot with compelling characters.

Charles Phillips.  You want to read this book for the pure pleasure of it.  Then read it again and see how he makes a first person narration work with a narrator who is passionate about ideas.

Anyone who wants to get better at world building:  Here is a master at work, who make it look easy.

The characterization is so good.

Why oh why does he have to totally overuse the "had" construction? (To the point of saying, "had," every time it's technically possible to do so.)  That's about the only fault I've noticed, but it's an odd one to have.

Any other Enthusiasts out there?  (Anathem reference)

[Lord Anubis]

Check out Snow Crash.  Wonderfully clever story about hackers, cyberspace, and language.  And it's also a "girl and her dog" story. 

Cryptonomicon is nice.  Apparently it's the first in a series, but I haven't read the others.

Don't remember the "had" issue, but I also haven't read one of his books in four or five years.  I do recall him being a very classic cyberpunk author in regards to the episodic nature of his chapters and scenes, although not as bad as someone like, say, Gibson.

[frank]

About, "Had."  You'd have noticed, L. A., but maybe it isn't his mannerism after all.  Maybe it's something his narrator does.  His narrator is a young man and the book takes the form of his first journal.  He does break some other writing "rules".  (And as a character, is absolutely convincing.)  So, maybe . . .  Now I like what I see.

[Doug (Ancient) Wojtowicz]

I haven't read Anathema... so I don't recall him using "had" a lot.

Snow Crash is kinetic.  Everything is PRESENT time, except when dipping into backstory.

The Diamond Age is bigger and prettier. 

Also, check out Zodiac.  Wry sarcasm at its best.

[krakenten]

Nobody mentioned "The System of the World"?

Huge trilogy, much alchemy, here and there a blade. Mathmatics, Counterfeiting. Isacc Newton 'cuts for the stone on an unwilling patient. "Forever Amber" written by Pyncheon, perhaps. With some help from Frank Yerby.

Historical, hysterical, grim. You wish it was longer.

"Cryptonomicon" is also great. And big!

A major talent.

[frank]

Nobody mentioned "The System of the World"?

Huge trilogy, much alchemy, here and there a blade. Mathmatics, Counterfeiting. Isacc Newton 'cuts for the stone on an unwilling patient. "Forever Amber" written by Pyncheon, perhaps. With some help from Frank Yerby.

Historical, hysterical, grim. You wish it was longer.

"Cryptonomicon" is also great. And big!

A major talent.

I have heard of this.  Now I'm sure I'd like to read it.  Thanks!

[krakenten]

The trilogy is "The Baroque Cycle", beg pardon for the brain fart.

Much is said about the Englishmen from the unpronounceable Isle, Stephenson has used this gag before, and I doubt not it'll appear again. I can't say why it's so funny, it just is.

Pynchon's "Lewis and Clark', a pomo classic, would go well with 'The Baroque Cycle'. So would Diana Gabaldons utterly irrestable 'Outlander' series. Which shows no signs of ending any time soon, so get started as soon as ever you can, this is some real fun fiction, done to a turn.

Read one chapter(best to do the books in order, they are direct secqels. Reading out of order will confuse, DG is a very able plotter, wonderfully unpredictable, just plain good!

[krakenten]

I'm doing his "Redame" now, a thriller, full of spies, terrorists, gangsters and a huge, complex on line game called T'rain.

Much more focused than "Snow Crash", which is full of the cutesey stuff Pyncheon loves so dearly, it isn't as charming. But it is tight and engaging-there's a damsel in distress you can care about and villains to loathe.

The damsel, Zula, is a refugee from the Eritrea war, and a very tough cookie, for all her youth. I almost pity her captors-almost. They've caught a Tartar, and have not a clue.

Serves them right!