Comments on: Quicksilver questions http://crookedtimber.org/2004/12/19/quicksilver-questions/ Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made Sat, 26 May 2012 10:58:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Investment Fraud http://crookedtimber.org/2004/12/19/quicksilver-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-55046 Investment Fraud Sat, 25 Dec 2004 23:16:50 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2675#comment-55046 <a href="http://cgi.tripod.com/investment-fraud/cgi-bin/index.pl">Investment Fraud</a> http://cgi.tripod.com/investment-fraud/cgi-bin/index.pl http://cgi.tripod.com/tax-attorney/cgi-bin/index.pl <a href="http://cgi.tripod.com/tax-attorney/cgi-bin/index.pl">Tax and IRS Lawyer</a> http://cgi.tripod.com/celebrex-lawyer/cgi-bin/index.pl <a href="http://cgi.tripod.com/celebrex-lawyer/cgi-bin/index.pl">Celebrex Recall Lawyer</a> http://cgi.tripod.com/health-insurance0/cgi-bin/index.pl <a href="http://cgi.tripod.com/health-insurance0/cgi-bin/index.pl">Health Insurance</a> http://cgi.tripod.com/distance-education/cgi-bin/index.pl <a href="http://cgi.tripod.com/distance-education/cgi-bin/index.pl">Distance Education</a> http://cgi.tripod.com/vioxx-lawsuit0/cgi-bin/index.pl <a href="http://cgi.tripod.com/vioxx-lawsuit0/cgi-bin/index.pl">Vioxx Lawsuit</a> Investment Fraud http://cgi.tripod.com/investment-fraud/cgi-bin/index.pl http://cgi.tripod.com/tax-attorney/cgi-bin/index.pl Tax and IRS Lawyer http://cgi.tripod.com/celebrex-lawyer/cgi-bin/index.pl Celebrex Recall Lawyer http://cgi.tripod.com/health-insurance0/cgi-bin/index.pl Health Insurance http://cgi.tripod.com/distance-education/cgi-bin/index.pl Distance Education http://cgi.tripod.com/vioxx-lawsuit0/cgi-bin/index.pl Vioxx Lawsuit

]]> By: Direct TV http://crookedtimber.org/2004/12/19/quicksilver-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-55045 Direct TV Thu, 23 Dec 2004 10:33:53 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2675#comment-55045 Hi there!<a href="http://www.direct-tv-online.com>Direct TV</a> http://www.direct-tv-online.com Hi there!http://www.direct-tv-online.com

]]> By: Pedro Jorge Romero http://crookedtimber.org/2004/12/19/quicksilver-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-55044 Pedro Jorge Romero Wed, 22 Dec 2004 16:26:46 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2675#comment-55044 I have translated several Stephenson’s books into Spanish, and I must say he is a fascinating author. I have never been bored translating one of his novels. On the contrary, I find that reading him word by word enhances my enjoyment of his books. Right now, I am finishing The Confusion, and the book is just plain fun: a wonderfully imaginative pirate novel and an enthralling look to the economy of the period; so full of interesting details. Quicksilver too was fascinating as a portrait of science at the time. The rewarding aspect of reading Stephenson is the reading process in itself, not the goal of reaching the end; reading Stephenson is a very zen-like activity. I have translated several Stephenson’s books into Spanish, and I must say he is a fascinating author. I have never been bored translating one of his novels. On the contrary, I find that reading him word by word enhances my enjoyment of his books. Right now, I am finishing The Confusion, and the book is just plain fun: a wonderfully imaginative pirate novel and an enthralling look to the economy of the period; so full of interesting details. Quicksilver too was fascinating as a portrait of science at the time. The rewarding aspect of reading Stephenson is the reading process in itself, not the goal of reaching the end; reading Stephenson is a very zen-like activity.

]]> By: Mike http://crookedtimber.org/2004/12/19/quicksilver-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-55043 Mike Tue, 21 Dec 2004 19:58:02 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2675#comment-55043 As I kept breaking into a grin and reading bits to my wife against her will, I'm probably the worst person to offer insight to someone who's lukewarm on the series. So I'll just second those of you who've said that the point is the same as any good story well told. And I'd go on to Confusion, which intersperses fascinating economic history with a kickass pirate novel. As I kept breaking into a grin and reading bits to my wife against her will, I’m probably the worst person to offer insight to someone who’s lukewarm on the series. So I’ll just second those of you who’ve said that the point is the same as any good story well told. And I’d go on to Confusion, which intersperses fascinating economic history with a kickass pirate novel.

]]> By: Cranky Observer http://crookedtimber.org/2004/12/19/quicksilver-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-55042 Cranky Observer Tue, 21 Dec 2004 19:11:52 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2675#comment-55042 > Another crack at the record! When I saw the "29 comments" this morning I was hoping the discussion was continuing ;-( Cranky > Another crack at the record! When I saw the “29 comments” this morning I was hoping the discussion was continuing ;-( Cranky

]]> By: Darren http://crookedtimber.org/2004/12/19/quicksilver-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-55041 Darren Tue, 21 Dec 2004 09:26:13 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2675#comment-55041 Quicksilver Comments The idea of quicksilver (that is, the element mercury) as a metaphor for information was interesting. The example of steganography was quite good. This is difficult to comment upon without spoilers but ... it is difficult to look at examples of the medium upon which the steganograph was placed without wondering... (Apologies for the convoluted prose; just avoiding spoilers). I add these two comments since no other (most probably better) reviewers mentioned them. Quicksilver Comments The idea of quicksilver (that is, the element mercury) as a metaphor for information was interesting. The example of steganography was quite good. This is difficult to comment upon without spoilers but … it is difficult to look at examples of the medium upon which the steganograph was placed without wondering… (Apologies for the convoluted prose; just avoiding spoilers). I add these two comments since no other (most probably better) reviewers mentioned them.

]]> By: John Quiggin http://crookedtimber.org/2004/12/19/quicksilver-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-55040 John Quiggin Tue, 21 Dec 2004 09:05:44 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2675#comment-55040 Another crack at the record! Another crack at the record!

]]> By: Brad http://crookedtimber.org/2004/12/19/quicksilver-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-55039 Brad Tue, 21 Dec 2004 08:11:04 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2675#comment-55039 Having read all three parts of the trilogy, I think part of the problem is the sheer size of the endeavor. Stephenson tries to pack a lot of different things into 2,000 plus pages, some of which (the detail on the layout and infrastructure of London) may not have been necessary. I read Cryptonomicon twice, and in many ways enjoyed it more on the second reading than I did the first, and am starting to do the same with the trilogy. I think that, as with Cryptonomicon, the second reading may add a greater appreciation of what Stephenson was trying to do. My humble opinion. Having read all three parts of the trilogy, I think part of the problem is the sheer size of the endeavor. Stephenson tries to pack a lot of different things into 2,000 plus pages, some of which (the detail on the layout and infrastructure of London) may not have been necessary. I read Cryptonomicon twice, and in many ways enjoyed it more on the second reading than I did the first, and am starting to do the same with the trilogy. I think that, as with Cryptonomicon, the second reading may add a greater appreciation of what Stephenson was trying to do. My humble opinion.

]]> By: Brad http://crookedtimber.org/2004/12/19/quicksilver-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-55038 Brad Tue, 21 Dec 2004 08:10:33 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2675#comment-55038 Having read all three parts of the trilogy, I think part of the problem is the sheer size of the endeavor. Stephenson tries to pack a lot of different things into 2,000 plus pages, some of which (the detail on the layout and infrastructure of London) may not have been necessary. I read Cryptonomicon twice, and in many ways enjoyed it more on the second reading than I did the first, and am starting to do the same with the trilogy. I think that, as with Cryptonomicon, the second reading may add a greater appreciation of what Stephenson was trying to do. My humble opinion. Having read all three parts of the trilogy, I think part of the problem is the sheer size of the endeavor. Stephenson tries to pack a lot of different things into 2,000 plus pages, some of which (the detail on the layout and infrastructure of London) may not have been necessary. I read Cryptonomicon twice, and in many ways enjoyed it more on the second reading than I did the first, and am starting to do the same with the trilogy. I think that, as with Cryptonomicon, the second reading may add a greater appreciation of what Stephenson was trying to do. My humble opinion.

]]> By: Brad http://crookedtimber.org/2004/12/19/quicksilver-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-55037 Brad Tue, 21 Dec 2004 08:10:13 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2675#comment-55037 Having read all three parts of the trilogy, I think part of the problem is the sheer size of the endeavor. Stephenson tries to pack a lot of different things into 2,000 plus pages, some of which (the detail on the layout and infrastructure of London) may not have been necessary. I read Cryptonomicon twice, and in many ways enjoyed it more on the second reading than I did the first, and am starting to do the same with the trilogy. I think that, as with Cryptonomicon, the second reading may add a greater appreciation of what Stephenson was trying to do. My humble opinion. Having read all three parts of the trilogy, I think part of the problem is the sheer size of the endeavor. Stephenson tries to pack a lot of different things into 2,000 plus pages, some of which (the detail on the layout and infrastructure of London) may not have been necessary. I read Cryptonomicon twice, and in many ways enjoyed it more on the second reading than I did the first, and am starting to do the same with the trilogy. I think that, as with Cryptonomicon, the second reading may add a greater appreciation of what Stephenson was trying to do. My humble opinion.

]]> By: Bradley Mossman http://crookedtimber.org/2004/12/19/quicksilver-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-55036 Bradley Mossman Tue, 21 Dec 2004 08:09:52 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2675#comment-55036 Having read all three parts of the trilogy, I think part of the problem is the sheer size of the endeavor. Stephenson tries to pack a lot of different things into 2,000 plus pages, some of which (the detail on the layout and infrastructure of London) may not have been necessary. I read Cryptonomicon twice, and in many ways enjoyed it more on the second reading than I did the first, and am starting to do the same with the trilogy. I think that, as with Cryptonomicon, the second reading may add a greater appreciation of what Stephenson was trying to do. My humble opinion. Having read all three parts of the trilogy, I think part of the problem is the sheer size of the endeavor. Stephenson tries to pack a lot of different things into 2,000 plus pages, some of which (the detail on the layout and infrastructure of London) may not have been necessary. I read Cryptonomicon twice, and in many ways enjoyed it more on the second reading than I did the first, and am starting to do the same with the trilogy. I think that, as with Cryptonomicon, the second reading may add a greater appreciation of what Stephenson was trying to do. My humble opinion.

]]> By: Bradley Mossman http://crookedtimber.org/2004/12/19/quicksilver-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-55035 Bradley Mossman Tue, 21 Dec 2004 08:09:27 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2675#comment-55035 Having read all three parts of the trilogy, I think part of the problem is the sheer size of the endeavor. Stephenson tries to pack a lot of different things into 2,000 plus pages, some of which (the detail on the layout and infrastructure of London) may not have been necessary. I read Cryptonomicon twice, and in many ways enjoyed it more on the second reading than I did the first, and am starting to do the same with the trilogy. I think that, as with Cryptonomicon, the second reading may add a greater appreciation of what Stephenson was trying to do. My humble opinion. Having read all three parts of the trilogy, I think part of the problem is the sheer size of the endeavor. Stephenson tries to pack a lot of different things into 2,000 plus pages, some of which (the detail on the layout and infrastructure of London) may not have been necessary. I read Cryptonomicon twice, and in many ways enjoyed it more on the second reading than I did the first, and am starting to do the same with the trilogy. I think that, as with Cryptonomicon, the second reading may add a greater appreciation of what Stephenson was trying to do. My humble opinion.

]]> By: Brad http://crookedtimber.org/2004/12/19/quicksilver-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-55034 Brad Tue, 21 Dec 2004 08:07:47 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2675#comment-55034 Having read all three parts of the trilogy, I think part of the problem is the sheer size of the endeavor. Stephenson tries to pack a lot of different things into 2,000 plus pages, some of which (the detail on the layout and infrastructure of London) may not have been necessary. I read Cryptonomicon twice, and in many ways enjoyed it more on the second reading than I did the first, and am starting to do the same with the trilogy. I think that, as with Cryptonomicon, the second reading may add a greater appreciation of what Stephenson was trying to do. My humble opinion. Having read all three parts of the trilogy, I think part of the problem is the sheer size of the endeavor. Stephenson tries to pack a lot of different things into 2,000 plus pages, some of which (the detail on the layout and infrastructure of London) may not have been necessary. I read Cryptonomicon twice, and in many ways enjoyed it more on the second reading than I did the first, and am starting to do the same with the trilogy. I think that, as with Cryptonomicon, the second reading may add a greater appreciation of what Stephenson was trying to do. My humble opinion.

]]> By: Cranky Observer http://crookedtimber.org/2004/12/19/quicksilver-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-55033 Cranky Observer Mon, 20 Dec 2004 14:58:36 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2675#comment-55033 [Spoiler Warning]<blockquote><i>(Or at least I take them to be fantastic elements, unless Stephenson knows things about the unusual properties of certain kinds of gold that I do not)</i></blockquote>Shows me what one gets for making assumptions. Until I read this comment I had assumed that there were two stable (or meta-stable) isotopes of gold, but there is <a href="http://www.chemicalelements.com/elements/au.html">only one</a>. However, I think one of the themes that Stephenson is exploring here is that Newton came very close to inventing quantum physics; with a clue such as two isotopes of gold he might have gone over that edge and figured it out. In which case the world would have been very different.<p>And in terms of fantastical elements, I think the Lazarus character might qualify ;-).<p>Cranky</p></p> [Spoiler Warning]
(Or at least I take them to be fantastic elements, unless Stephenson knows things about the unusual properties of certain kinds of gold that I do not)
Shows me what one gets for making assumptions. Until I read this comment I had assumed that there were two stable (or meta-stable) isotopes of gold, but there is only one. However, I think one of the themes that Stephenson is exploring here is that Newton came very close to inventing quantum physics; with a clue such as two isotopes of gold he might have gone over that edge and figured it out. In which case the world would have been very different.

And in terms of fantastical elements, I think the Lazarus character might qualify ;-).

Cranky

]]> By: Charles Dodgson http://crookedtimber.org/2004/12/19/quicksilver-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-55032 Charles Dodgson Mon, 20 Dec 2004 14:40:47 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=2675#comment-55032 For what it's worth, the Baroque Cycle does have elements of the fantastic, which show up in a minor way in Quicksilver, and become increasingly important in each of the two sequels. (Or at least I take them to be fantastic elements, unless Stephenson knows things about the unusual properties of certain kinds of gold that I do not). Which actually bugs me. There is actually a small genre of novels that use their characters and settings as a vehicle for exploring the origins of the modern world -- among others, Gain by Richard Powers, on the origin of corporations as institutions distinct from their proprietors, and Iain Pears's superb An Instance of the Fingerpost, on the emergence of modern science from the religious frame of mind of seventeenth-century Oxford. The Baroque Cycle starts off seeming like one of those, and I'd rather it stayed that way; the genre-jumping feels like it's not quite playing fair with the reader. But then again, I loved Mary Gentle's Ash -- another secret history with, well let's say, fantastic elements -- perhaps because the reader learns more quickly that there's something strange going on, even if it isn't obvious for hundreds of pages exactly what. Getting back to the Baroque Cycle, I think the original question here was something like, "what's the point"? And part of the point is clearly just to be a ripping good yarn. But -- and I'm on thin ice here, as I haven't read through the whole thing yet -- I think Clute may be right to suggest that part of what's going on here, beyond just explorations of the origin of some aspects of modernity, is a kind of pitch for the Great Man view of history. (Some of Stephenson's straight history has much the same view -- I remember particularly his take on Lord Kelvin in his Wired story on the history and practice of undersea communications cables). But I'll know more about that when I'm all the way through the thing... For what it’s worth, the Baroque Cycle does have elements of the fantastic, which show up in a minor way in Quicksilver, and become increasingly important in each of the two sequels. (Or at least I take them to be fantastic elements, unless Stephenson knows things about the unusual properties of certain kinds of gold that I do not). Which actually bugs me. There is actually a small genre of novels that use their characters and settings as a vehicle for exploring the origins of the modern world—among others, Gain by Richard Powers, on the origin of corporations as institutions distinct from their proprietors, and Iain Pears’s superb An Instance of the Fingerpost, on the emergence of modern science from the religious frame of mind of seventeenth-century Oxford. The Baroque Cycle starts off seeming like one of those, and I’d rather it stayed that way; the genre-jumping feels like it’s not quite playing fair with the reader. But then again, I loved Mary Gentle’s Ash—another secret history with, well let’s say, fantastic elements—perhaps because the reader learns more quickly that there’s something strange going on, even if it isn’t obvious for hundreds of pages exactly what. Getting back to the Baroque Cycle, I think the original question here was something like, “what’s the point”? And part of the point is clearly just to be a ripping good yarn. But—and I’m on thin ice here, as I haven’t read through the whole thing yet—I think Clute may be right to suggest that part of what’s going on here, beyond just explorations of the origin of some aspects of modernity, is a kind of pitch for the Great Man view of history. (Some of Stephenson’s straight history has much the same view—I remember particularly his take on Lord Kelvin in his Wired story on the history and practice of undersea communications cables). But I’ll know more about that when I’m all the way through the thing…

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