Cryptonomicon zooms all over the world, careening conspiratorially back and forth between two time periods - World War II and the present. Our 1940s heroes are the brilliant mathematician Lawrence Waterhouse, crypt analyst extraordinaire, and gung-ho, morphine-addicted marine Bobby Shaftoe. They're part of Detachment 2702, an Allied group trying to break Axis communication codes while simultaneously preventing the enemy from figuring out that their codes have been broken. Their job boils down to layer upon layer of deception. Dr. Alan Turing is also a member of 2702, and he explains the unit's strange workings to Waterhouse. "When we want to sink a convoy, we send out an observation plane first... Of course, to observe is not its real duty - we already know exactly where the convoy is. Its real duty is to be observed... Then, when we come round and sink them, the Germans will not find it suspicious."
All of this secrecy resonates in the present-day story line, in which the grandchildren of the WWII heroes - inimitable programming geek Randy Waterhouse and the lovely and powerful Amy Shaftoe - team up to help create an offshore data haven in Southeast Asia and maybe uncover some gold once destined for Nazi coffers. To top off the paranoiac tone of the book, the mysterious Enoch Root, key member of Detachment 2702 and the Societas Eruditorum, pops up with an unbreakable encryption scheme left over from WWII to befuddle the 1990s protagonists with conspiratorial ties.
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Cryptonomicon zooms all over the world, careening conspiratorially back and forth between two time periods - World War II and the present. Our 1940s heroes are the brilliant mathematician Lawrence Waterhouse, crypt analyst extraordinaire, and gung-ho, morphine-addicted marine Bobby Shaftoe. They're part of Detachment 2702, an Allied group trying to break Axis communication codes while simultaneously preventing the enemy from figuring out that their codes have been broken. Their job boils down to layer upon layer of deception. Dr. Alan Turing is also a member of 2702, and he explains the unit's strange workings to Waterhouse. "When we want to sink a convoy, we send out an observation plane first... Of course, to observe is not its real duty - we already know exactly where the convoy is. Its real duty is to be observed... Then, when we come round and sink them, the Germans will not find it suspicious."
All of this secrecy resonates in the present-day story line, in which the grandchildren of the WWII heroes - inimitable programming geek Randy Waterhouse and the lovely and powerful Amy Shaftoe - team up to help create an offshore data haven in Southeast Asia and maybe uncover some gold once destined for Nazi coffers. To top off the paranoiac tone of the book, the mysterious Enoch Root, key member of Detachment 2702 and the Societas Eruditorum, pops up with an unbreakable encryption scheme left over from WWII to befuddle the 1990s protagonists with conspiratorial ties.
Anyone with a background in computer science/ mathematics especially discrete or just deeper appreciation of blockchain technology will probably find this in their top 3 favorite books of all time.... especially if you love odd humor and/or ww2 novels. Very unique book. Truly remarkable given when it was written.
Been wanting to read about cryptography in more depth after learning about Lt. Commander Layton during WWII regarding decrypting the Japanese communications leading up to the battle of Midway.
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i bought this last time it was 1.99 but i still havent read it.The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O was 1.99 then too but it isnt now.However. anathem is now 1.99 too.That I did read many years ago and it is well worth the 1.99
I've reread both Cryptonomicon and Anathem and they are both worth it!
This post made me wonder when Neal Stephenson might have a new book out and I just learned that "Polostan" was released in October. Sweet!
The ONE book that I never finished. Nearly three quarters of the way through and I couldn't bear the overly descriptiveness of non-important surroundings. Unbearable. To each there own, but I like my plot points to have relevance and not just page fillers.
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Not quite as infinite as Infinite Jest, fortunately.
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The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O was 1.99 then too but it isnt now.
However. anathem is now 1.99 too.
That I did read many years ago and it is well worth the 1.99
This post made me wonder when Neal Stephenson might have a new book out and I just learned that "Polostan" was released in October. Sweet!
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