Cryptonomicon was a great Neal Stephenson book to read after Snow Crash, although quite different. Both share the same casual style of humor, intricate and broad storyline, and exploration of the “hacker” persona, but whereas Snow Crash is more futuristic and visionary in its plot, Cryptonomicon contains more pedestrian events.

Cryptonomicon covers two story timelines in parallel, alternating chapters. When first being introduced to the stories, it can of course be confusing, but having already read a Stephenson novel, I trusted all would tie together in an intricate but beautiful way, which of course it did. In one story line, we follow the hilarious Lawrence Pritchard Waterhouse as he aids the Allies in breaking Axis codes. Some years in the future, Randy Lawrence Waterhouse is building a company during the 1990s internet boom. The novel has a good range of characters, each with very distinct personalities, which Stephenson never fails to hilariously emphasize.

One of my favorite parts (shared with Snow Crash) is Stephenson’s portrayal of the highly intelligent. Lawrence, for example, works on intelligence projects that concern the history of the entire planet, not for power or money, but simply because he is entralled with the problems he faces. Once he breaks a code, he is not interesting in the particulars of the messages or reusing his algorithm. He is satisfied teaching at a (so-so) university and settling down for a happy simple life. The insanely smart also get lost in their work, Randy coding and Lawrence breaking codes. I think that’s awesome.