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just_justin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mantissabolt's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
sarsaparillo's review against another edition
4.0
Not sure I've mentioned in my short reviews of each book in this series how much humor there is, which aims for that dry British style that suits the setting. This add a lot to the entertainment value. I noticed more the liberal use of dei ex machina to move the plot along and contrive more outlandish entanglements of the various characters. There is a scene in an opera house which which steers deliberately into high slapstick but I didn't mind. Feeling a little sad how close I am to the end of this enormous saga. No idea what to read next. Apparently Cryptonomicon is set in the same universe, centuries later. I read it 20 years ago, with quite a different brain in my head. Might be worth another go...
sharondblk's review against another edition
5.0
It's book seven, so no major surprises, except that everyone is back together and in fine form.
And the plot basically makes sense again, which is nice.
And the plot basically makes sense again, which is nice.
suvij's review
5.0
Прочитати «Бароковий цикл» Ніла Стівенсона залпом не виходить (думаю, не тільки у мене), але читати його по роману-два на рік — справжнє задоволення.
Автор вибудовує свою реальність настільки детально (тут з цілком рококошним іноді надміром), що не тільки персонажі, а й читач оселяється у цьому просторі. Можна сказати, що кінець циклу не настільки різноплановий жанрово, як початок. Але ж і персонажів зустрічаєш, як давніх знайомих. Так і є: дехто з них прожив на сторінках романів ціле життя на наших очах.
Окрім книжки, від якої просто неможливо відірватися, окремо хочеться вклонитися авторові за моменти, коли стискаєш кулаки і думаєш «та нехай же в них нарешті все буде добре» про персонажів, які вигадані — і Стівенсоном, і майстерно розіграним сюжетом.
Автор вибудовує свою реальність настільки детально (тут з цілком рококошним іноді надміром), що не тільки персонажі, а й читач оселяється у цьому просторі. Можна сказати, що кінець циклу не настільки різноплановий жанрово, як початок. Але ж і персонажів зустрічаєш, як давніх знайомих. Так і є: дехто з них прожив на сторінках романів ціле життя на наших очах.
Окрім книжки, від якої просто неможливо відірватися, окремо хочеться вклонитися авторові за моменти, коли стискаєш кулаки і думаєш «та нехай же в них нарешті все буде добре» про персонажів, які вигадані — і Стівенсоном, і майстерно розіграним сюжетом.
darwin8u's review against another edition
4.0
“For most of the day and night, time oppresses me. It is only when I am at work on the innards of a clock-or a lock-that time stops."
- Neal Stephenson, The Currency
Stephenson continues the last volume ([b:The System of the World|116257|The System of the World (The Baroque Cycle, #3)|Neal Stephenson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1407712273s/116257.jpg|905463]) of his Baroque trilogy with Book 7: "Currency". Like in Book 6, [b:Solomon's Gold|2017|Solomon's Gold (The Baroque Cycle, Vol. 3, Book 1)|Neal Stephenson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1308799029s/2017.jpg|7445248], "Currency" is primarily focused on Daniel Waterhouse trying to track down Jack Shaftoe (or Jack the Counterfeiter) who is making England's money financially dubious by messing with the Pyx (and hence putting ALL of England's currency at risk). Isaac Newton is helping Daniel Waterhouse track down Jack, both because as the Master of the Mint his reputation (and head) are at risk. But he is also motivated because as an alchemist he suspects that Jack Shaftoe has some of Solomon's gold. While all of this is going on Eliza is trying to help Princess Caroline survive the inevitable succession issues that will develop (including assassination attempts) once Queen Anne dies.
This has probably been the least "exciting" of the novels, but like any long work (eventually, the Baroque Cycle will clock in at about 2650 pages) there are bound to be parts of a work that float down the narrative current rather than quant down. Still, I did enjoy it.
- Neal Stephenson, The Currency
Stephenson continues the last volume ([b:The System of the World|116257|The System of the World (The Baroque Cycle, #3)|Neal Stephenson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1407712273s/116257.jpg|905463]) of his Baroque trilogy with Book 7: "Currency". Like in Book 6, [b:Solomon's Gold|2017|Solomon's Gold (The Baroque Cycle, Vol. 3, Book 1)|Neal Stephenson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1308799029s/2017.jpg|7445248], "Currency" is primarily focused on Daniel Waterhouse trying to track down Jack Shaftoe (or Jack the Counterfeiter) who is making England's money financially dubious by messing with the Pyx (and hence putting ALL of England's currency at risk). Isaac Newton is helping Daniel Waterhouse track down Jack, both because as the Master of the Mint his reputation (and head) are at risk. But he is also motivated because as an alchemist he suspects that Jack Shaftoe has some of Solomon's gold. While all of this is going on Eliza is trying to help Princess Caroline survive the inevitable succession issues that will develop (including assassination attempts) once Queen Anne dies.
This has probably been the least "exciting" of the novels, but like any long work (eventually, the Baroque Cycle will clock in at about 2650 pages) there are bound to be parts of a work that float down the narrative current rather than quant down. Still, I did enjoy it.
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