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Quicksilver (The Baroque Cycle, Vol. 1)

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Manufacturer: Harper Perennial

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PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780060593087
ISBN: 0060593083
Label: Harper Perennial
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 960
Publication Date: 2004-10-01
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Release Date: 2004-09-21
Studio: Harper Perennial

Related Items
The Confusion (The Baroque Cycle, Vol. 2) The System of the World (The Baroque Cycle, Vol. 3) Cryptonomicon Anathem Snow Crash (Bantam Spectra Book)

Editorial Reviews:
Quicksilver is the story of Daniel Waterhouse, fearless thinker and conflicted Puritan, pursuing knowledge in the company of the greatest minds of Baroque-era Europe, in a chaotic world where reason wars with the bloody ambitions of the mighty, and where catastrophe, natural or otherwise, can alter the political landscape overnight. It is a chronicle of the breathtaking exploits of "Half-Cocked Jack" Shaftoe -- London street urchin turned swashbuckling adventurer and legendary King of the Vagabonds -- risking life and limb for fortune and love while slowly maddening from the pox. And it is the tale of Eliza, rescued by Jack from a Turkish harem to become spy, confidante, and pawn of royals in order to reinvent Europe through the newborn power of finance. A gloriously rich, entertaining, and endlessly inventive novel that brings a remarkable age and its momentous events to vivid life, Quicksilver is an extraordinary achievement from one of the most original and important literary talents of our time. And it's just the beginning ...

Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating: Summary: an adventure epic for geeks and lovers of historical fiction Comment: This epic story is an amazing blend of ideas from the history of science and adventure. The tempo of the writing is more like an adventure story. "Quicksilver" is probably most appealing to geeks and those who enjoy historical fiction. When you really like something it's natural to think everyone else will love it too, but they won't. Quicksilver and the rest of the trilogy make for a longgggg read, but it sure doesn't feel like it. Long and enjoyable like Lord of the Rings on film, sweeping in scope, a real epic. Neal Stephenson is one of my favorite authors. If you've never read one of his books I'd reccommend "Cryptonomicon" or "Snow Crash" to read first. Customer Rating: Summary: Just . . .Can't . . . Do . . .It! Comment: I have loved all of Neal Stephenson's other works, including his most recent Anathem, but prior to Anatham I attempted three, I repeat THREE TIMES to engage in Quicksilver & I just can't stay focused past the first handful of chapters. Every time I hope that I may 'cause there's soooooo much to look forward to in terms of sheer quantity of material, but nonetheless, unsuccessful. Customer Rating: Summary: I didn't finish it Comment: I liked Zodiac and Snow Crash, and really liked Diamond Age, but this book just didn't keep my interest. I took it back to the library after reading a few dozen pages. Customer Rating: Summary: quicksilver Comment: pretty disapointing. after cryptonomicon i expected something that would really hold my interest. i hope the following two books are better because up until now neal stephenson has impressed me with his incredible imagination, wit, and style. quicksilver just doesnt grab me like his earlier works. Customer Rating: Summary: A fun way to experience history Comment: Reading this book made me fall in love with 17th and 18th century Europe, a period in history which I previously had little interest in. This book is a fun and exciting way to walk along the streets of Renaissance Paris, Amsterdam, Hamburg, and Vienna. I found the descriptions of the Netherlands to be amusing and very clever--at one point a character stores thousands of pounds of lead in his house, and the neighbors begin to notice because his house starts sinking into the ground and bringing the neighborhood with it! With that said, I think Stephenson has something against writing a male character who is not a bumbling, head-in-the-clouds caricature. I don't know if he has an inferiority complex himself around women or what, but I wouldn't mind seeing a male character who was both intelligent and socially competent. I've read his other books and this seems to be a common trend. Also, squeamish readers should be aware of the graphic violence both in this book and the second one in the series, in particular sexual maiming against some of the characters. I also enjoyed seeing him give a reading in person in Seattle. He wrote the first draft with pen and paper!

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