From:	Mark A Shieh SHODAN+@***.EDU
Subject:	OT Re: Interesting...
Date:	Fri, 12 Feb 1999 14:47:57 -0500 (EST)

Sommers <sommers@*****.umich.edu> writes:
> At 07:34 PM 2/11/99 , Patrick Goodman wrote:
> >Guess it depends on what you consider good cyberpunk. Stephenson's work is
> >by far better cyberpunk than Gibson's.

I had forgotten what a can of worms this argument can become.
My bad.

> >>Has he written anything since Diamond Age (my least favorite of
> >>his books)?
> >
> >Not to my knowledge, but I've been awfully broke of late and so haven't been
> >to many bookstores.
>
> The last book he wrote was "Zodiac" as in the boat. Its about a boarderline
> eco terrorist working all sides of the problem and trying to be a general
> pain in the ass while still being a slacker.

<nitpick>
Actually, Zodiac predates both Diamond Age and Snow Crash.
</nitpick>

> Much better that "Diamond Age" IMHO.

I still wish I knew why Diamond Age never grabbed me like the
other two books. I think I just wasn't empathizing with the
characters enough to care enough about them, and the ending didn't do
anything for me (not enough closure).


So, I went to Amazon yesterday and discovered that there's a
Neal Stephenson book called "Cryptonomicon" due out in hardback in
May. No additional info, and May is, like, months away. :(

Mark