The Sword and Laser discussion

(view spoiler)[Wouldn't the Schloss have a security system that would go off when the power was cut? I might be wrong but I think most security systems trigger when power is lost or cut. If the phone lines were cut maybe that would explain no flags going off with police but I think phone loss might also trigger security companies in some cases. I'm no expert. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[That's a very good point. I thought it might have had something to do with the remote location or something, but that's probably not true. Like since the cell tower was gone as well as the phone lines and power then it wouldn't be able to send out an alarm? (hide spoiler)]

Because then they couldn't have had the end scene where they did...

I dunno, that seems like one of the many things in the book that were just oversights of common sense.

(view spoiler)[The Motorcycle guy got a message(view spoiler)[, that was the power out contingency option. (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[Yeah, most of the book is way too convenient. Oh, wow, MAGICALLY ALL THE CHARACTERS ARE IN THE SAME PLACE AT THE END!? Of course. This is why I don't think it makes it as a thriller and I just skimmed to the end. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[I think stories of this type require some pretty incredible suspension of disbelief. My main complaint with this book is that there is enough slow down in the story and build up when you change to a different character that it makes that suspension of disbelief harder to keep up. And as Jenny and terpkristin have stated, there are a lot of highly unlikely events happening. (hide spoiler)]

I was thinking of the Schloss like the ski version of the Hotel from Shining, (view spoiler)[and mud month has the place being totally abandoned and stuff. I didn't have a problem with the security system being all goofy (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[@Jim Garrison - I agree. That was a minor issue. I had much greater problems with this book. Mostly that great chunks of the book were boring and the overall basic premise done to death in almost all story telling mediums. What originality Stephenson brought to the story wasn't enough to keep me interested. I was disappointed since this was the first book I've read by Stephenson and everyone has talked so highly of his stories. A friend at work is really pushing me to read Snow Crash so I'll know why so many people like this author. (hide spoiler)]

Nick, I get what you are saying, but re my other thread. I almost never read Stephenson for the main story. The little bits of world building is what I read him for.

Jim wrote: "Nick, I get what you are saying, but re my other thread. I almost never read Stephenson for the main story. The little bits of world building is what I read him for."
1000 pages of world building? ;)

Jenny: nah, I'm a believer of Sturgeons law. A good ten percent of this book will become the script of the film. (view spoiler)[The rest of the book is interesting tidbits about life in the world and how T'Rain is better than WoW (hide spoiler)] But that is my humble opinion, which combined with a Nickle will get you five cents.