Ryan's Reviews > Reamde
Reamde
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It's important for writers to recognize their strengths. With Reamde, it's clear that Neal Stephenson has embraced his: the infodump. There are infodumps about the setting of wind shield wipers on cars in Seattle, bears roaming the Rockies, and Walmart.
These may not be thrilling subjects, but Reamde is an infodump fueled thriller. After just 300/ 1000 pages, Stephenson grows tired of American Walmarts. Before we know it, his hero's niece, Zula, is kidnapped and flown to China, where we are given infodumps related to Xiamen's architecture, the culture of the Russian mafia, and even international terrorism.
And don't forget about spies! There are three of them, and all of them come with their own highly detailed back story. In fact, at one point Stephenson offers a digression about spy school. It's begun in the middle of a fire fight, but it's interesting enough that readers will stay tuned for thirty pages rather than skipping ahead to see what happens in the firefight. Neal Stephenson, folks.
When we consider that we live in an age where we must be "concise" and "focused" in our writing, I find Stephenson's digressions especially striking. For example, Stephenson quite comfortably explains how a MMORPG was marketed. Does it have anything to do with the plot? Perhaps. Could it be skipped? Almost certainly. Nevertheless, for Stephenson's fans, these digressions are the hook that keeps readers turning pages, rather than the plot.
And it is this reversal that makes Reamde a success. Stephenson's achievement here is that he so easily demonstrates that a great thriller can be measured by the depth of its infodumps, rather than the pace of its plot.
These may not be thrilling subjects, but Reamde is an infodump fueled thriller. After just 300/ 1000 pages, Stephenson grows tired of American Walmarts. Before we know it, his hero's niece, Zula, is kidnapped and flown to China, where we are given infodumps related to Xiamen's architecture, the culture of the Russian mafia, and even international terrorism.
And don't forget about spies! There are three of them, and all of them come with their own highly detailed back story. In fact, at one point Stephenson offers a digression about spy school. It's begun in the middle of a fire fight, but it's interesting enough that readers will stay tuned for thirty pages rather than skipping ahead to see what happens in the firefight. Neal Stephenson, folks.
When we consider that we live in an age where we must be "concise" and "focused" in our writing, I find Stephenson's digressions especially striking. For example, Stephenson quite comfortably explains how a MMORPG was marketed. Does it have anything to do with the plot? Perhaps. Could it be skipped? Almost certainly. Nevertheless, for Stephenson's fans, these digressions are the hook that keeps readers turning pages, rather than the plot.
And it is this reversal that makes Reamde a success. Stephenson's achievement here is that he so easily demonstrates that a great thriller can be measured by the depth of its infodumps, rather than the pace of its plot.
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Reading Progress
August 29, 2011
–
Started Reading
August 29, 2011
– Shelved
August 29, 2011
–
11.49%
"And I thought Grossman, Abercrombie, or Martin would take best SFF novel of the year. Of course, I'm only 10% in, but wow!"
page
120
September 6, 2011
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-22 of 22 (22 new)
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Stefan
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rated it 5 stars
Sep 01, 2011 02:22PM
I'd sure love an ARC of this one :/
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Stefan wrote: "I'd sure love an ARC of this one :/"
Just cleared page 400 and it's still pretty solid.
Just cleared page 400 and it's still pretty solid.
Info dump? Hah! Now that's an understatement...hummm, well Stephenson is frustrating the hell out of me mid way through Cryptomomicon...his WWII angle fascinates me to no end but the modern one drives me to rage...
Snow Crash starts slow but when he brings in the Sumerian history...I'm loving it enough now to finish it by the weekend!
Snow Crash starts slow but when he brings in the Sumerian history...I'm loving it enough now to finish it by the weekend!
Randy wrote: "Info dump? Hah! Now that's an understatement...hummm, well Stephenson is frustrating the hell out of me mid way through Cryptomomicon...his WWII angle fascinates me to no end but the modern one drives me to rage..."
What's that expression? "Live by the infodump, die by the infodump?"
What's that expression? "Live by the infodump, die by the infodump?"
Hawk wrote: "I love this review because you've (perhaps unintentionally) imitated Stephenson's writing style."
Unintentional, but I'm not surprised since he's such a brilliant writer.
Unintentional, but I'm not surprised since he's such a brilliant writer.
Lori wrote: "Picked this up today at Costco, can't wait."
I hope you're going to start reading this soon.
I hope you're going to start reading this soon.
Ryan wrote: "Hawk wrote: "I love this review because you've (perhaps unintentionally) imitated Stephenson's writing style."
Unintentional, but I'm not surprised since he's such a brilliant writer."
Agreed entirely.
Unintentional, but I'm not surprised since he's such a brilliant writer."
Agreed entirely.
Your review detailed exactly how I feel about this book. It was great, the infodump was awesome, and there was just enough action.
Mary Kathryn wrote: "Your review detailed exactly how I feel about this book."
That's awesome.
I think Reamde is one of the best of 2011.
That's awesome.
I think Reamde is one of the best of 2011.
Just finished it, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved Cryptonomicon more though. I always look forward to learning from his writing.
Belinda wrote: "Just finished it, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved Cryptonomicon more though. I always look forward to learning from his writing."
I'm almost embarrassed to admit it, but I still haven't read Cryptonomicon. I'm hoping to get to it by summer.
I'm almost embarrassed to admit it, but I still haven't read Cryptonomicon. I'm hoping to get to it by summer.
Read Cryptiminicon twice IMOone of best novels of the 21st century. On page 130 of Reamde and loving it.
So sad, but I liked your review more than REAMDE. I'll re-read Anathem and get my Stephenson groove back...
Melissa wrote: "So sad, but I liked your review more than REAMDE. I'll re-read Anathem and get my Stephenson groove back."
Anathem is definitely worth a re-read. I think I'd read it after Reamde. It took me three tries to get through the first 200 pages, but once I made it, it was just as good as I'd heard.
Anathem is definitely worth a re-read. I think I'd read it after Reamde. It took me three tries to get through the first 200 pages, but once I made it, it was just as good as I'd heard.
huh... never thought of it as info-dumping before, but I guess in the fantasy I usually read it's just all called world building. His info seems slightly more useful ;) Really enjoyed your review.
Thanks for writing this. Not familiar with Stephenson's works, other than knowing that people like him a lot, but I personally cannot stand flash back info dumps in the middle of stuff going on so am going to give this a pass. Again, thanks for the heads up.