Reamde - Stephenson

Quick review and then some detail, ok?

Neal Stephenson's latest is a kind of computer culture thriller. It reads like a cross between Clancy and a hacker magazine. With a little bump for the quality digressions that Stephenson is so well known for. It's a big book (1000+ pages) but reads quickly enough. It features not one, but two different action sequences that are at least 150 pages long. 'Reamde' isn't as mind stretchy as some of his recent stuff but it was well worthwhile.
Now for some of the things that struck me (possible spoilers):

• The main family features three brothers that grew up in the farm country of Iowa. The family is extremely into gun culture. The opening scene features a Thanksgiving family reunion shooting range. Given where I grew up (and especially my in-laws!) I felt pretty at home with all of this.
• Lots and lots and lots of guns in this book. They are treated respectfully throughout. Both in terms of people being taught to use them properly and in showing how useful they can be.
• One of the brothers has become very wealthy by creating a World of Warcraft style computer game. The insights here are genuinely fascinating, both in gaming culture and in innovative entrepreneurialship.
  
• A large portion of this takes place on and near the US/Canada border in the area between British Columbia and Idaho. It sounds like gorgeous territory. Made me want to go hiking. More importantly, made me want to be qualified to really go out and do some serious hiking.
• Numerous comparisons between different US cultures, all illuminating rather than derogatory. Specifically the midwest rural types, the blue state coastals and the survivalists of the mountains. It's rare to find sympathetic treatment of all three in the same book.

I enjoyed it but I didn't love it. In fact, once I was done I had a strong urge to read either 'The Cryptonomican' or 'Anathem' again. If you enjoy Stephenson, you should read it. But you don't have to rush out and do so.