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Quicksilver

Book 1 in the series:The Baroque Cycle

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'Quicksilver' by Neal Stephenson is a hefty historical fiction novel set in the 17th and 18th centuries, focusing on the birth of scientific and financial modernity. The book follows various characters, including Daniel Waterhouse, as they navigate through significant historical events like the Glorious Revolution, the Royal Society, and the interactions between famous figures like Isaac Newton and Robert Hooke. The writing style blends elements of science, history, and humor, creating a rich and immersive reading experience that delves into the complexities of the era.

Characters:

The characters are diverse and richly developed, blending historical figures with fictional personalities, adding depth to the sprawling narrative.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is intricate and detailed, merging modern and historic language, which can be both entertaining and daunting.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot is intricate and involves multiple intertwined narratives focusing on historical events and figures, with no singular linear story. It dives deep into the impact of the Age of Enlightenment.

Setting:

The setting is richly established in Europe during the Enlightenment, focusing on the interplay of science, politics, and culture.

Pacing:

The pacing of the book varies widely, often slowing due to detailed exposition but occasionally quickening during action sequences.
ENOCH ROUNDS THE CORNER JUST as the executioner raises the noose above the woman’s head. The crowd on the Common stop praying and sobbing for just as long as Jack Ketch stands there, elbows locked, fo...

Notes:

Quicksilver is the first book in Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle trilogy.
The novel spans over 920 pages, making it quite a lengthy read.
It takes place in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, focusing on historical and scientific progress.
The book features real historical figures such as Isaac Newton, Leibniz, and Robert Hooke alongside fictional characters.
It includes a wide range of topics including alchemy, metaphysics, and the dawn of modern finance.
The book has a picaresque narrative style, following various characters on their adventures.
Humor is present in the novel, despite its dense subject matter and historical weight.
The novel showcases discussions and debates between leading thinkers of the time, bringing to light the scientific revolution's impact on society.
Characters in the book often engage in deep philosophical and scientific conversations, reflecting the era's intellectual climate.
The book also explores a variety of themes, including the conflict between science and religion, and the intersection of finance and politics.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers may include discussion of sexual violence, historical oppression, and graphic descriptions of surgery or bodily harm.

Has Romance?

There are romantic elements, particularly involving Eliza and her relationships, but it is not the central focus of the story.

From The Publisher:

In which Daniel Waterhouse, fearless thinker and courageous Puritan, pursues knowledge in the company of the greatest minds of Baroque-era Europe - in a chaotic world where reason wars with the bloody ambitions of the mighty, and where catastrophe, natural or otherwise, can alter the political landscape overnight.

Ratings (19)

Incredible (5)
Loved It (5)
Liked It (4)
It Was OK (3)
Did Not Like (2)

Reader Stats (49):

Read It (19)
Want To Read (20)
Did Not Finish (4)
Not Interested (6)

1 comment(s)

It Was OK
2 months

Wow.

Quicksilver is a lot of book. I've had this on the shelf for a long time and put off reading it due to the daunting size. I loved

Cryptonomicon, so of course I wanted to read the trilogy prequel. Baroque Cycle is certainly the perfect name for this trilogy (so far, anyway), because that's just what it is: baroque. Complex, delicate, dense, intellectual.

Although I liked it, this is not a quick or easy read. Stephenson dumps you into the middle of 17th century European politics and expects you to keep up with the history of science, currency, and stock markets. It is all fascinating stuff, but the longer explanatory sections get a bit dry. Jack and Eliza's plot, taken up in the middle section, provides much needed comic relief and action sequences.

I will eventually finish the trilogy, but I need to take a breather with some lighter fare first.

 

About the Author:

Neal Stephenson is the bestselling author of Reamde, Anathem; the three-volume historical epic the Baroque Cycle (Quicksilver, The Confusion, and The System of the World); Cryptonomicon; The Diamond Age; Snow Crash, which was named one of Time magazine's top one hundred all-time best English-language novels; and Zodiac. He lives in Seattle, Washington.

 
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