Reamde

There's some interesting aspects of plot to it, but it could have been about half the length and still been good. I'm also pretty uncomfortable with the way middle Eastern people are depicted—there is not a single positive character of middle Eastern descent in the book, and the terrorists are portrayed in a decidedly one dimensional way with the exception of one character. This is also true for most of the unnamed Asian characters in the novel. It's a pretty lazy attempt at writing, I expect something better out of Neal Stephenson.

Like all of Stephenson's novels technology plays an important part in Reamde, but it's not really SF. It's more of an alternative near future tech thriller and an awfully good yarn. It's 1000 pages of fast paced, multi-thread action, so if that's your cup of tea, go straight ahead.

I wish Reamde had more of it's namesake in the story. While the big twist was certainly effective when it happened, it completely killed the pacing. The various protagonists all go their separate ways, and very little except travel happens until they gather together for the final extended shootout.

A satisfying read, with some minor issues.

The constant cutting, especially toward the end, is in the style of a movie or TV edit which I struggle to understand the value of in novels - especially one as good as this, with characters you not only want to learn more about, but empathise with.

The second half of the book, after the retreat from Xiamen - perhaps as a function of the diaspora of the main characters, felt like a sequel. A completely different pace. Despite it's length, there was an element of a race to the finish.

Abdallah jones, a character well created by Stephenson was horribly and disappointingly sidelined after the plane crash. More of him rather than each discrete group of the heroes would've been worthwhile.

But a ripping yarn, nonetheless, engaging, exciting, descriptive and with characters you wanted to read about.

Four stars David.