With this extraordinary first volume in what promises to be an epoch-making masterpiece, Neal Stephenson hacks into the secret histories of nations and the private obsessions of men, decrypting with dazzling virtuosity the forces that shaped this century. As an added bonus, the e-book edition of this New York Times bestseller includes an excerpt from Stephenson's new novel, Seveneves. In 1942, Lawrence Pritchard Waterhouse—mathematical genius and young Captain in the U.S. Navy—is assigned to detachment 2702. It is an outfit so secret that only a handful of people know it exists, and some of those people have names like Churchill and Roosevelt. The mission of Waterhouse and Detachment 2702—commanded by Marine Raider Bobby Shaftoe-is to keep the Nazis ignorant of the fact that Allied Intelligence has cracked the enemy's fabled Enigma code. It is a game, a cryptographic chess match between Waterhouse and his German counterpart, translated into action by the gung-ho Shaftoe and his forces. Fast-forward to the present, where Waterhouse's crypto-hacker grandson, Randy, is attempting to create a "data haven" in Southeast Asia—a place where encrypted data can be stored and exchanged free of repression and scrutiny. As governments and multinationals attack the endeavor, Randy joins forces with Shaftoe's tough-as-nails granddaughter, Amy, to secretly salvage a sunken Nazi submarine that holds the key to keeping the dream of a data haven afloat. But soon their scheme brings to light a massive conspiracy with its roots in Detachment 2702 linked to an unbreakable Nazi code called Arethusa. And it will represent the path to unimaginable riches and a future of personal and digital liberty...or to universal totalitarianism reborn. A breathtaking tour de force, and Neal Stephenson's most accomplished and affecting work to date, Cryptonomicon is profound and prophetic, hypnotic and hyper-driven, as it leaps forward and back between World War II and the World Wide Web, hinting all the while at a dark day-after-tomorrow. It is a work of great art, thought and creative daring; the product of a truly iconoclastic imagination working with white-hot intensity.
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Informations
About the author
Neal Stephenson
Author
Neal Town Stephenson is an American writer known for his works of speculative fiction. His novels have been categorized as science fiction, historical fiction, cyberpunk, and baroque.
Cryptonomicon
by Neal Stephenson
Books Like Cryptonomicon
If you're looking for books similar to Cryptonomicon, here are some recommendations based on themes, tone, and narrative style.
Snow Crash
Neal Stephenson
Another groundbreaking cyberpunk novel by Stephenson that explores technology, information systems, and societal transformation. The story follows a computer programmer and pizza delivery driver navigating a hyper-capitalist future where virtual reality and real-world interactions blur. Like Cryptonomicon, it features complex technological themes and a narrative that blends historical and speculative elements. The book offers a deep dive into linguistics, computer science, and social structures through a fast-paced, intellectually engaging plot.
Neuromancer
William Gibson
A seminal cyberpunk novel that explores digital networks, cryptography, and technological subcultures. The story follows a washed-up computer hacker hired for a mysterious job that leads him into a complex global conspiracy. Similar to Cryptonomicon, the novel features intricate technological themes and a narrative that interweaves complex systems and human motivations. Gibson's work pioneered the exploration of digital spaces and their impact on human experience.
The Diamond Age
Neal Stephenson
Another Stephenson novel that explores technology, culture, and societal transformation through a complex narrative. Set in a nanotechnology-driven future, the book follows the story of a young girl and an interactive book that shapes her education and worldview. Like Cryptonomicon, it features deep technological speculation and intricate storytelling that spans multiple timelines and cultural perspectives.
The Peripheral
William Gibson
A science fiction novel exploring multiple timelines, technological transformation, and complex global systems. The story follows characters from different time periods connected through advanced technological networks. Similar to Cryptonomicon, it features intricate technological themes and a narrative that spans complex systemic interactions.
Daemon
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A techno-thriller that explores the intersection of technology, society, and power structures. The novel follows the aftermath of a computer programmer's death and the autonomous system he creates to transform society. Similar to Cryptonomicon, it features complex technological themes, cryptography, and a narrative that examines how technology can reshape human systems.
Reamde
Neal Stephenson
A contemporary techno-thriller that explores digital gaming, global networks, and complex technological systems. The story follows a game designer caught in an international conflict triggered by a virtual world. Similar to Cryptonomicon, it features Stephenson's intricate storytelling and deep exploration of technological systems.
Interface
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A techno-political thriller exploring media manipulation, technological systems, and political power. The novel follows a political campaign transformed by advanced technological interventions. Like Cryptonomicon, it features Stephenson's deep exploration of complex technological and social systems.
Anathem
Neal Stephenson
A complex science fiction novel that explores philosophical and mathematical concepts through a richly detailed alternate world. The story follows monks dedicated to scientific and philosophical study who become involved in a world-changing event. Like Cryptonomicon, it features Stephenson's trademark deep intellectual exploration and intricate world-building.
Accelerando
Charles Stross
A science fiction novel that explores technological singularity and the transformation of human society through digital technologies. The story follows multiple generations of a family adapting to rapid technological change. Like Cryptonomicon, it features complex technological speculation and a narrative that spans multiple timelines.
Zero History
William Gibson
A contemporary thriller exploring fashion, technology, and global networks. The novel follows characters navigating complex technological and cultural landscapes. Like Cryptonomicon, it features deep exploration of technological systems and their impact on human behavior.
Pattern Recognition
William Gibson
A contemporary thriller that explores digital culture, marketing, and global networks. The protagonist investigates mysterious film footage while navigating complex technological and cultural landscapes. Similar to Cryptonomicon, the novel features intricate technological themes and a narrative that blends personal story with broader systemic exploration.
Rainbows End
Vernor Vinge
A near-future science fiction novel exploring augmented reality, technological transformation, and social change. The story follows a recovering Alzheimer's patient adapting to a radically transformed technological world. Like Cryptonomicon, it features deep technological speculation and examination of how technology reshapes human experience.
Halting State
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A near-future science fiction novel exploring digital gaming, cryptography, and technological crime. The story follows investigators unraveling a complex technological mystery. Similar to Cryptonomicon, it features intricate technological themes and a narrative that examines complex systemic interactions.
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