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Philip Ott

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Fall; or, Dodge in Hell

by Neal Stephenson (Goodreads Author)

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Philip Ott said: " REAM.DE was my least favorite Neal Stephenson novel, but the sequel -Fall, or Dodge in Hell- is the master returned to form. Stephenson's gift for presenting far-reaching, profound ideas from the future in a way that feels personal, and accessible, i REAM.DE was my least favorite Neal Stephenson novel, but the sequel -Fall, or Dodge in Hell- is the master returned to form. Stephenson's gift for presenting far-reaching, profound ideas from the future in a way that feels personal, and accessible, is on full display here.

I'm only a third of the way through it, so I can't speak to the quality of the plot or its resolution. That being said, Fall offers intellectually nourishing food for thought that's plated, and seasoned, in such a way that makes it pleasant to binge on, and digest, in spite of the nutritional density.

The eccentricity of the characters, their personalities and perspectives on the world, enable Stephenson to deploy his trademark humor in a way that prevents what would otherwise be several dozen daisy-chained TED talks (or one Ray Kurzweil book) from growing stale. Characters from his previous works make appearances, including the ever-present E.R. (what is with that guy? How is he always there?), and those allusions are satisfying to those of us who have delved into the author's previous catalog.

This book is not without its flaws. The pacing thus far seems-herky-jerky. Some of the characters feel derivative and uninteresting. Sometimes I'm left feeling like the last ten pages were Stephenson trying to impress me with the depth and quirkiness of his intellect, though that may be a response arising from my over-familiarity with his work. Those same passages may charm those just discovering the author, as similar passages have charmed me in the past.

In summary, if you're fascinated by many of the core concepts of the Singularity, or what this country may culturally or technologically look like in the coming decades, you'll find Fall, or Dodge in Hell, an engaging read. If you enjoyed Cryptonomicon, or Snow Crash, or Seveneves, this is for you. If you interpret Stephenson's prediction of cryptocurrency, manifest in Cryptonomicon (published in 1999) as evidence of his ability to forecast the future, you'll find his most recent novel simultaneously hopeful and unsettling. If you're expecting another page-flipping techno-thriller, a la REAM.DE, don't bother. This is gonzo futurism, not Mr. Robot, and I don't know why you were reading Neal Stephenson to begin with. ...more "

Nov 07, 2019 11:49PM · see review