Some Remarks: Essays and Other Writing by Neal Stephenson (Epub)

Description

Now he treats his legion of fans to Some Remarks, an enthralling collection of essays—Stephenson’s first nonfiction work since his long essay on technology, In the Beginning…Was the Command Line, more than a decade ago—as well as new and previously published short writings both fiction and non.

Some Remarks is a magnificent showcase of a brilliantly inventive mind and talent, as he discourses on everything from Sir Isaac Newton to Star Wars.

User’s Reviews

One of the most talented and creative authors working today, Neal Stephenson is renowned for his exceptional novels—works colossal in vision and mind-boggling in complexity. Exploring and blending a diversity of topics, including technology, economics, history, science, pop culture, and philosophy, his books are the products of a keen and adventurous intellect. Not surprisingly, Stephenson is regularly asked to contribute articles, lectures, and essays to numerous outlets, from major newspapers and cutting-edge magazines to college symposia. This remarkable collection brings together previously published short writings, both fiction and nonfiction, as well as a new essay (and an extremely short story) created specifically for this volume.Stephenson ponders a wealth of subjects, from movies and politics to David Foster Wallace and the Midwestern American College Town; video games to classics-based sci-fi; how geekdom has become cool and how science fiction has become mainstream (whether people admit it or not); the future of publishing and the origins of his novels. Playful and provocative, Some Remarks displays Stephenson’s opinions and ideas on:The Internet, our dwindling national attention span, and the cultural importance of books and bookishnessWaco, religion, and the cluelessness of secular societyMetaphysics and the battle between Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz The laying of the longest wire on Earth—and why it matters to youTechnology, freedom, commerce, and the Chinese How Star Wars and 300 mirror who we are today and what that spells for our futureModern Jedi knights, a.k.a. scientists and technologists, and why they are admired and feared by both the left and the rightBy turns amusing and profound, critical and celebratory, yet always entertaining, Some Remarks offers a fascinating look into the prismatic mind of this extraordinary writer. About the Author Neal Stephenson is the bestselling author of the novels Reamde, Anathem, The System of the World, The Confusion, Quicksilver, Cryptonomicon, The Diamond Age, Snow Crash, and Zodiac, and the groundbreaking nonfiction work In the Beginning . . . Was the Command Line. He lives in Seattle, Washington.

Reviews from Amazon users, collected at the time the book is getting published on UniedVRG. It can be related to shiping or paper quality instead of the book content:

⭐ I didn’t realize when I bought this book that in addition to the dozen plus essays, there are several short stories. I don’t think of short stories as Neal Stephenson territory, so I was pleased to get them. They turn out to be pretty good stories, too, quite enjoyable and for once not overly long.The heart of this collection, though, is the essays, which range from a couple of pages long to over a hundred pages, novella-length in its own right. Stephenson covers many subjects here, from introducing other writer’s works to metaphysics at the Royal Society, to describing the laying of trans-oceanic telecommunications cable to discussing the state of science fiction today. As one would expect from Stephenson, he writes intelligently and with humor about all these subjects and many more. I never would have thought that an essay on laying telecom cable would be interesting, but I was sucked into this article and read it in a single sitting, over a hundred pages of it.I really liked the fact that these pieces covered such a broad range of subjects and were of such varied lengths. I didn’t know Stephenson could write anything under 300 pages long, so the shorter pieces were a pleasant surprise. Sometimes I wished he would expound more on the shorter bits, such as his discussion of “Anathem”, and the interviews with Slashdot and Salon were also pretty interesting and easily could have been longer.Overall, this is a thoughtful collection that should please and reward you with chuckles and the occasional, “Huh, I didn’t know that.” I was particularly interested in Stephenson’s take on the state of science fiction today, which he brings up in several of these pieces. I wanted to hear him talk more about his own books, though, which doesn’t much occur herein, and I could have used a couple more short stories. This book is a strong work that doesn’t disappoint, and it should give you a dozen hours of reading enjoyment.

⭐ There are 2 types of people in the world. The first type are people who love Neal Stephenson’s writing and then eventually die. The second type are just people who just eventually die. Be the first type! This collection of stuff I had previously not read is full of gems. Some of the gems are the individual articles themselves. Others are one liners and paragraphs that either describe my reality in a way I had not quite pieced together on my own or describe reality in a way that I was previously ignorant of. Going through this collection has improved my life, as good writing can do. My only knock on this is that Neal is not the aurator if the audiobook. If anyone reads this, and also happens to have a line of communication open with Mr Stephenson, can you please tell him that some random guy on the internet would like for him to read for the audiobook! Thanks in advance!

⭐ Then start with this some thought I Neil Stevenson. You’ll get a sense of his entertaining and less he muscular writing. For scientists and others of that ilkHistory of this discussions about technology and invention yes you need to read it fascinate the reader.I dictated this on my iPad. I need to edit it probably tomorrow.

⭐ This collection of essays provides greater insights into Stephenson’s process and thinking, and is also an excellent read for others interested in writing.

⭐ This book is a view into the mind and discipline of a once in a century, or longer, author. The stories in this case are just so so but the manner of crafting stories, building character, asking intelligent questions is among the best, if not the best ever. If you have not read the system of the World Series, Cryptonomicon, Reamde, or others where he describes characters and roles you have missed the best historical fiction in many lifetimes. Each character is warts and all, and by the end of each book, you are avidly looking for the next, and the quality just keeps improving. The only complaint I have is that I wish I had found this author many years before. A great read but only if you are ready to be made to think.

⭐ I first became a fan of Neal Stephenson’s writing when I discovered his brilliant fiction: “Cryptonomicon,” “Reamde” and his Baroque Cycle novels. I was delighted to learn that he had pulled together a collection of previous published essays and other non-fiction pieces in “Some Remarks.”Mr. Stephenson is the rare writer who combines deep technical domain knowledge with a literary style that is both erudite and refreshing. Understanding and enjoying his level of communication takes a bit of work, but it is well worth it – like savoring a delicious steak that requires some savory chewing. In this far-ranging collection, the author tackles The Internet, Metaphysics and the battle between Sir Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz, scientists as modern Jedi knights, a deconstruction of the movies Star Wars and 300 – and a whole lot more.I always get to the last page of a Stephenson book, and then jump on Amazon to order something else by him to read.

⭐ This book is a good mix of (mostly short-form) writings: from a little bit unexpected (like introductory piece about perils of sedentary lifestyle) to proper “Neal’s style” things. By “Neal’s style” I mean “extremely rich in details, festooned with brilliant and simply explanations of difficult things/ideas and really thought provoking”. I especially liked “Mother Board Mother Earth” (fascinating introduction to the world of submarine cabling which provides foundations for our modern communication systems) and rocket-science/big project execution related pieces “Locked In” & “Innovation Starvation”. And if you are fan of Baroque Cycle there are some related interviews in this book too.

⭐ It’s fascinating to read Neal Stephanson’s nonfiction. Having read a good deal of his fiction–and enjoyed the complete worlds that he creates–it’s a treat to read his take on the “real” world. Elements of humor, wisdom learned along the way, and even some of his political and social views become evident in this work. Readers who enjoy his fictional works may be surprised by this side of the author but won’t be disappointed.

⭐ A necessary addition to any Stephenson fan’s library. The epic essay, “Mother Earth, Mother Board”, is worth the price of admission alone.

⭐ I have been a fan of Neal Stephenson for years. I’ve read all his books and re-read my favorites every year or two just to enjoy them again. This book is a collection of very short articles by him. While of course this is not as engaging as one of his longer novels, it still is a great read. Neal also give a few recommendations of other works sprinkled throughout this book. Those are worth looking up.I am currently reading the new The Mongoliad: Book one, which Neal is a contributor. Its easy to pick out which stuff he wrote because his style shines right through.

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