The Confusion, Part II

The Baroque Cycle (8 volume) #5

by Neal Stephenson

Stephenson continues his New York Times bestselling Baroque Cycle with this latest installment. Featuring unforgettable characters in the late 1600s, this series chronicles a time of breathtaking genius and discovery that define an age known as Baroque.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Audiobook, Historical, Cyberpunk

Mass Market Paperback

First published March 27, 2012

About the author

Neal Stephenson is the author of Reamde, Anathem, and the three-volume historical epic the Baroque Cycle (Quicksilver, The Confusion, and The System of the World), as well as Cryptonomicon, The Diamond Age, Snow Crash, and Zodiac. He lives in Seattle, Washington.

Reviews

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slightly better overall now that I've read both Confusions together, I really feel like I got a very cool taste of the rest of the world. I'm really quite impressed that Jack got around that much. I mean, India and Mexico? Whoah dude! In Baroque, too!

I was rather more impressed with the science bits this time, too, and the fantastic personages we get to see. Newton, of course, but after all that time spent with these guys in Quicksilver, it's nice to see that they're all still sipping the silver stuff and going mad like the drug fiends they are. Just because they can do all that heavy math doesn't mean they don't know how to party like it's 1699. :)

Jack, however, and Eliza, both steal most of the show and the page count.

I'm not quite sure if I like that. It may have grown on me. Ethier way, I have to get used to it or these novels are going to go downhill quick. At least the Con-Fusion, or mixing, is going well. Economics as the hidden protagonist for the win! :)

Quite a decent novel or novels since they're all intertwined, but I feel like I ought to be more respectful and impressed than simply enjoying the ride. There's no doubt in my mind that as a historical escapade, it's one of the best I've ever read, but I do think my tastes run a bit elsewhere.

Along the same lines, though, I can say that I loved Cryptonomicon a lot more than this even though they both share a lot of the same themes. :)

[Dave Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neil Stephenson originally wrote The Confusion part 1 & 2 as the Bonanza & The Junta. two separate books with parallel timelines. instead of releasing them like that, he alternated the chapters and released the two books as one bigger book parts 1 &2.
I agree with his choice. this section of the baroque cycle is so huge, sprawling, and covers so much time that the two narratives would have been hopelessly divorced. good call from an editor. and good on you Mr. Stephenson for crediting your editor. we readers usually only hear bad things about them.

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went through with sticky notes and color-coded which sections belong to which book so that the books can be read individually. It really does bug me that books 4 and 5 are not separated into their respective parts for the individual releases. “Confusing” books 4&5 is fun for the full version of Volume 2, but it’s more of an annoyance when trying to read each book individually.
My review of the story can be found on Baroque Cycle Volume 2.

[Boris Grozev · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story advanced somewhat slowly, even compared to the previous books from the cycle, but the ending was intense and brilliant and it made up for it.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The turn of the 17-18th century madness continues for another vast volume. This installment focuses more logically around Jack Shaftoe and Eliza with key appearances by Newton and Leibnitz and so many others. I liked it better than Quicksilver because it has more action and you don

[Joe Labriola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although sometimes dragging due to its immense scope and large cast of complex characters, Neal Stephenson's "The Juncto" still bears more than enough political intrigue, personal struggle, and narrative drama to make book five a worthy entry in "The Baroque Cycle" series.

[Halle Lieu · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Confusion is a kind of bewitchment--a moment when what we supposed we understood loses its form and runs together and becomes one with other things that, though they might have had different outward forms, shared the same inward nature."

[D Calco · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Confusion (The Baroque Cycle, Vol. 2) by Neal Stephenson (2004)

[Theresident · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing compares to the Baroque Cycle, except maybe "Lost," and that is cheating because it has a huge budget and moving pictures. I prefer Neal's Jack at any rate.

[Piotr Petelski · Rating 5 out of 5]

AH. AH. AH.

[Bimali1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bardzo interesująca, rozbudowana, wieloznaczna powieść. Niestety, czytam ją z dużymi przerwami i chyba nie do końca ogarniam całość.

[Kate Sherrod · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is usually my least favorite stretch of the Baroque Cycle, but the audio book, with Simon Prebble narrating, made it quite enjoyable 8)

[Raykoda1 . · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most importantly, thank god smallpox is dead. Vaccinate your damn kids, people.