Bryan’s Comments (group member since Sep 16, 2010)

Bryan’s comments from the Hard SF group.

I really wouldn't classify Quicksilver as steampunk, nor would I recommend anybody begin reading it expecting to find steampunk.

This is actually a pure historical novel, and the "science fiction" qualities you'll associate with this book are subtle.

Some SF aspects exist. There is a lot of cryptography in one of the sections, and you do get to see a lot of the historical period through the eyes and descriptions of several notable and brilliant early scientists.

But there's as much politics in this book as science (as well as adventure during the Jack Shaftoe sections), and thus the book really never fits conveniently into any one genre.

And there's humor too... when you get to an extended scene that just seems like it will not end, here's some advice. Instead of bemoaning Stephenson's wicked delight in spending far too much time describing the most minute details, look for the humor. Stephenson inevitably uses such passages to accentuate some absurdity, and when I stopped allowing myself to be bored by them, I realized that a wry analysis of the ways and means of the times was the intent, and that the humor was developed by the extremes to which the analyses were taken.

A great book - a masterpiece! But please don't expect steampunk, or you will be disappointed and miss out on what the book was really intended to be.

Watch Moonraker to see probably the worst example of people moving slowly in zero gee. The astronauts flying the shuttle can't even reach for a clipboard (while seated in their pilot's seats) without moving their arms really, really slowly. There's no need for your arms to move that slowly in zero gee.