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Eric's Reviews > Fall; or, Dodge in Hell
Fall; or, Dodge in Hell
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So I had some issues with this book, overall I liked it, but I found it was easier to separate into the good and the bad:
The Good:
- One of his more readable books, so no heavy technical nonsense like in cryptonomicon
- Features the Waterhouses, the Shaftoes, the Forthrasts and Enoch Root
- Topic of discussion is really cool as its all about the afterlife
- Ameristan is the most hilarious thing
The Bad:
- As usual, its way too long, just under 900 pages
- When the book switches gears at the 3/4 mark and becomes a fantasy book it can be a pain to read (in that, the pace slows down, too many characters in the other world, can be difficult to follow and therefore slow and boring)
- The Meatspace (human world) parts of the book are the most interesting, so its a disservice when it becomes purely the other world for the half part of the book
- No ending, again
Overall, I did like the book, but its got some major strikes against it which keep it from being on the level of Snow Crash and Reamde.
The Good:
- One of his more readable books, so no heavy technical nonsense like in cryptonomicon
- Features the Waterhouses, the Shaftoes, the Forthrasts and Enoch Root
- Topic of discussion is really cool as its all about the afterlife
- Ameristan is the most hilarious thing
The Bad:
- As usual, its way too long, just under 900 pages
- When the book switches gears at the 3/4 mark and becomes a fantasy book it can be a pain to read (in that, the pace slows down, too many characters in the other world, can be difficult to follow and therefore slow and boring)
- The Meatspace (human world) parts of the book are the most interesting, so its a disservice when it becomes purely the other world for the half part of the book
- No ending, again
Overall, I did like the book, but its got some major strikes against it which keep it from being on the level of Snow Crash and Reamde.
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Fall; or, Dodge in Hell.
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Reading Progress
January 3, 2019
– Shelved
January 3, 2019
– Shelved as:
to-read
May 9, 2019
–
Started Reading
May 21, 2019
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-7 of 7 (7 new)
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Liz
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Jun 03, 2019 05:47PM
I'm really depressed to hear that the computer world isn't very interesting--from the author who gave us the Metaverse. :( His worldbuilding in "Seveneves" was also disappointing.
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Liz wrote: "I'm really depressed to hear that the computer world isn't very interesting--from the author who gave us the Metaverse. :( His worldbuilding in "Seveneves" was also disappointing."It's really more annoying than everything as its a whole other series of characters you have to learn and then try to figure out what the hell their plot is and how it relates back to the main book. In the beginning it's interesting and you will see very obvious biblical parallels but for reading it just slams on the brakes for the pacing.
I'm surprised to read that you thought there was no ending; I thought it was one of his better endings.
this is exactly how i felt. it was fine, but missing the Stephenson magic. D.O.D.O. was like that as well, but i thought it was the influence of his co-author. i guess not. i'm disappointed.
I’ll read this but only when it’s down to say $13... $17 is way too much when taking a chance on Stephenson. I’ve been burned by his nonsense before... best to wait, he’s clearly got too much ego these days, the guy sure ain’t John Cheever of something... This is Amazon after all! Come on!
Eric- thanks for your review which validated my reaction to the book. I enjoyed the first two-thirds or so, but lost interest in Bitworld - not a fan of the fantasy genre.
Clay wrote: "I’ll read this but only when it’s down to say $13... $17 is way too much when taking a chance on Stephenson. I’ve been burned by his nonsense before... best to wait, he’s clearly got too much ego t..."Jesus, up in Canada its $39 for the hardcover, I'd wait it out anyways
