Neal Stephenson Goodreads Group discussion
Termination Shock
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Mark
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Feb 04, 2022 05:45AM
Anybody reading or finished Termination Shock? I just started it but enjoying the Texas connection being from Houston. Anxious to see where it goes. It seems like an overdone subject matter (Climate change) but maybe Neal has a creative take on it.
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Talking to fans of Stephenson, some found this novel underwhelming.People looking to read a fun fiction story about climate change (or how a Dutch queen got her groove back!) will enjoy this story.
Mark wrote: "Anybody reading or finished Termination Shock? I just started it but enjoying the Texas connection being from Houston. Anxious to see where it goes. It seems like an overdone subject matter (Climat..." I just finished it. I'm not a fan of the book. I have a problem with Stephenson. I'm a huge fan of his Baroque Cycle books (QuickSilver, The Confusion, The System of the World), but I get disappointed in varying degrees with his other books. At this point I have read several. Termination Shock was a mild okay. Nothing shocking about its plot.
I first started reading Stephenson with the Baroque Cycle. Really enjoyed those and I was encouraged to read more of his stuff. I agree Termination Shock was not one of his better efforts. Others I really enjoyed included Cryptonomicon, Seven Eves, Anathema.
Agree that Cryptonomicon was good, thought Seven Eves as too obvious and I hated how it ended. I did enjoy ReadMe. Anathema, I think I just plain didn't understand. I still couldn't tell you what that one was about! I actually keep buying copies of QuickSilver when I see it just so that I can give it away. I have one now that I registered on the BookCrossing site and will be leaving that copy soon in a Dunkin Donuts of my choice. I was so taken by the Baroque Cycle that I've started mapping the characters movement on a Google Map that I'm creating.
I finished the book and enjoyed both the characters and the plot. Fall was such a let down that I waited a while to buy Termination Shock until I read some reviews. This was more along the lines of Reamde than Anathem or Seveneves, but not as complex. The ending felt a bit rushed but that may have just been me. I might pick it up and read it again one day to see if I feel the same.
I have not read Fall and based on comments probably will not. I enjoyed the book he co-authored with Nicole Galland, D.O.D.O. and her sequel, Master of the Revels. Also excited to see what he comes up with next.

