Cryptonomicon

Awhile back I mentioned that I would be writing reviews of the books I read. Well I finished Neil Stephenson's Cryptonomicon a couple of weeks ago and never managed to get around to blogging about it.

So with no further ado...

Cryptonomicon is a story set during WWII and present day following the lives of Lawrence Waterhouse and his grandson Randy Waterhouse. Lawrence Waterhouse isn't good at much except music and numbers. He ends up in the Navy and after the Attack of Pearl Harbor goes on to become a high-level cyrptoanalyst for the US government. Intertwined with Lawrence's story is the story of his grandson Randy who is a computer programmer. The plot twist and turns through WWII battle scenes, high level mathematics, history, treasure hunts, and even romance.

I liked the book. It was, however, quite pedantic. If you like a story to go from point A to point B with no stops in between this is not your book. But, if you don't mind a story that gets lost, stops and has a picnic, and then takes the scenic route this is a book for you. Are you aware that there is a correct way to eat Captain Crunch? According to one of the protagonist, Randy, there is. All in all, this book is a full of geekish masturbatory material. Though, the non geek may appreciate it also you might find it a bit annoying.