Neal Stephenson

[turbov21]

Techno-wizard also pens best-selling science fiction has an interesting blurb:

“It’s meant to be a good yarn and a story that you can dive into on its own merits. But if you want to go all interpret-y on me, there are clearly some connections between that world and the world we’re living in now,” Stephenson said, sporting a Leatherman tool in a belt holster and a formidable-looking knife handle sticking out of his jeans pocket.

My computer with Stephenson's latest novel (in drm'd ebook format) is running a virus scan, but as soon as I can get to it, I'm pretty sure Anathem makes mention of a multi-tool, though not any brand we'd know since it's set on an alien planet.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Is his stuff really only for computer geek types, or will it appeal to luddites (me) as well

[turbov21]

His early stuff is computer-geek heavy, but Anathem, his latest novel, is about a sect of math monks who live away from modern technology.  Likewise his trilogy The Baroque Cycle takes place in Victorian England, so there's very little computer geekery...a good bit of piracy and swordplay, though.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

His early stuff is computer-geek heavy, but Anathem, his latest novel, is about a sect of math monks who live away from modern technology.  Likewise his trilogy The Baroque Cycle takes place in Victorian England, so there's very little computer geekery...a good bit of piracy and swordplay, though.

Might have to give it a look then

[nuphoria]

Sounds good to me. I like most sci-fi based novels although I've read a lot more of the older ones like Asimov, Bradbury and Clark (pretty good ABC there eh?). I'm currently reading Enders Game which I can't believe I never got around to until now - it's great.

[turbov21]

"The tent was held up by flexible metal poles. We collapsed it and drew them out. This had the side effect of getting Laro and Dag’s attention. Our shelter was gone; they had no choice but to join in our plan. Brajj had a pocket tool with a little saw blade; he went to work cutting the tent poles into shorter segments. Once the others saw that there was work to be done, they joined in cheerfully." - Anathem, page 451.

[cgjones]

I recently finished re-reading Cryptonomicon. One of the main characters uses a "multipurpose tool" a few times.

[prime77]

I've read 3 of his books. Cryptonomicon is a great book. It will appeal to WW2 fans, and anyone interested in codebreaking.  Snow Crash was good as well. I've meant to read some of his newer stuff but haven't gotten around to it.

[STik]

I'm currently reading Enders Game which I can't believe I never got around to until now - it's great.

Try Ender's Shadow, too.  I love both, but I think ES is even better.   
STik

[Neil]

Mike, you might want to try Zodiac.  Here's the blurb....

Two centuries after the Boston Tea Party, harbour dumping is still a favourite local sport, only this time it's major corporations piping toxic wastes into the water. Environmentalist and professional pain in the ass, Sangaman Taylor is Boston's modern-day Paul Revere, spreading the word from a 40-horsepower Zodiac raft. Embarrassing powerful corporations in highly telegenic ways is the perfect method of making enemies, and Taylor has a collection that would do any rabble-rouser proud. After his latest exploit, he's wanted by the FBI, possibly by the Mafia, and definitely by a group of Satanist angel-dust heads who think he's looking for a PCP factory, not PCB contamination. Pretty soon dodging bullets is the least of Taylor's problems - because somewhere out there are an unhinged genetic engineer and a lab-concocted bacterium that could destroy all ocean life and that's just for appetizers. Frightening, funny, fast and furious, "Zodiac" is thrilling speculative fiction torn straight from today's headlines.

Neil

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

It's out of print, but I'll see if my library can get hold of it for me

Thanks