History Creator / NealStephenson

* Termination Shock

* ''Literature/{{Zodiac}}''

He is known for somewhat [[SignatureStyle idiosyncratic pacing]], [[TwoLinesNoWaiting multiple interwoven plots]], doing his research [[ShownTheirWork and sharing it in excruciating detail]], assuming that [[ViewersAreGeniuses his readers are geniuses,]] and a Pynchonesque tendency to [[ThrowItIn throw in]] long, seemingly pointless digressions: a [[Literature/{{Cryptonomicon}} lengthy erotic story]] on antique furniture and stockings, say, or a [[Literature/SnowCrash three-page memo]] regarding the proper use of toilet paper in an office environment. His more recent books also tend to be practical arguments in favor of electronic books supplanting paper copies (read: ''[[DoorStopper long]]''), with ''Cryptonomicon'' coming in at well over 900 pages and ''Anathem'' at nearly the same length before the many [[CallARabbitASmeerp glossaries]] and [[InstructionalDialogue appendices]]. He is widely considered to be rather [[CosmicDeadline poor at endings]], with many of his novels reaching a climax and then more or less ending immediately afterwards with little to no denouement, though some of his novels (''Cryptonomicon'' in particular) are more infamous for this than others.

A recurring theme in Stephenson's work involves the classification of humanity into a typography of functional castes based on their approach to practical and theoretic knowledge; this is spelled out most explicitly in his novella-length essay ''[[http://artlung.com/smorgasborg/C_R_Y_P_T_O_N_O_M_I_C_O_N.shtml In The Beginning... Was The Command Line]]'', where humanity is divided into [[Literature/TheTimeMachine Morlocks]] (those willing to pursue low-level technical knowledge) and [[Literature/TheTimeMachine Eloi]] (those unwilling to do so). However, the details vary from book to book; ''Literature/{{Cryptonomicon}}'' expands the concept into a FiveRaces-style typography of Elves, Dwarves, Men, and Hobbits smattered with occasional Wizards and a single specimen of [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Gollum]], while ''Literature/{{Anathem}}'' could be considered a near-thousand-page meditation on a similar theme. Not surprisingly, Stephenson's heroes always fall into a technically or theoretically sophisticated caste.

A recurring theme in Stephenson's work involves the classification of humanity into a typography of functional castes based on their approach to practical and theoretic knowledge; this is spelled out most explicitly in his novella-length essay ''[[http://artlung.com/smorgasborg/C_R_Y_P_T_O_N_O_M_I_C_O_N.shtml In The Beginning... Was The Command Line]]'', where humanity is divided into [[Literature/TheTimeMachine Morlocks]] (those willing to pursue low-level technical knowledge) and [[Literature/TheTimeMachine Eloi]] (those unwilling to do so). However, the details vary from book to book; ''Literature/{{Cryptonomicon}}'' expands the concept into a FiveRaces-style typography of Elves, Dwarves, Men, and Hobbits smattered with occasional Wizards and a single specimen of [[LordOfTheRings Gollum]], while ''Literature/{{Anathem}}'' could be considered a near-thousand-page meditation on a similar theme. Not surprisingly, Stephenson's heroes always fall into a technically or theoretically sophisticated caste.

He is known for somewhat [[SignatureStyle idiosyncratic pacing]], [[TwoLinesNoWaiting multiple interwoven plots]], doing his research [[ShownTheirWork and sharing it in excruciating detail]], assuming that [[ViewersAreGeniuses his readers are geniuses,]] and a Pynchonesque tendency to [[ThrowItIn throw in]] long, seemingly pointless digressions: a [[Literature/{{Cryptonomicon}} lengthy erotic story]] on antique furniture and stockings, say, or a [[Literature/SnowCrash three-page memo]] regarding the proper use of toilet paper in an office environment. His more recent books also tend to be practical arguments in favor of electronic books supplanting paper copies (read: ''[[DoorStopper long]]''), with ''Cryptonomicon'' coming in at well over 900 pages and ''Anathem'' at nearly the same length before the many [[CallARabbitASmeerp glossaries]] and [[InstructionalDialogue appendices]]. He is widely considered to be rather poor at endings, with many of his novels reaching a climax and then more or less ending immediately afterwards with little to no denouement.

Neal Stephenson is a ''very tall man,'' as well as the author of (in chronological order of publishing):

[[quoteright:350:[[BaldOfAwesome http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nel_4017.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:He'll go [[ItMakesSenseInContext 20th century on your ass]] [[http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/260688528/clang later]].]]

He was making a motion-controlled [[http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/260688528/clang swordfighting videogame]]... but [[http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/09/20/thud-development-of-neal-stephensons-clang-halted/ not anymore]]. [[http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDB4_y8Nbf0/UDkqyIVJfLI/AAAAAAAAn_c/GscZ2uuovRI/s1600/Scan10001.JPG Here's]] a [[AwesomenessIsVolatile screen-breaking]] photo with him, Creator/NeilGaiman and NeilArmstrong.

A recurring theme in Stephenson's work involves the classification of humanity into a typography of functional castes based on their approach to practical and theoretic knowledge; this is spelled out most explicitly in his novella-length essay ''[[http://artlung.com/smorgasborg/C_R_Y_P_T_O_N_O_M_I_C_O_N.shtml In The Beginning... Was The Command Line]]'', where humanity is divided into [[TheTimeMachine Morlocks]] (those willing to pursue low-level technical knowledge) and [[TheTimeMachine Eloi]] (those unwilling to do so). However, the details vary from book to book; ''Literature/{{Cryptonomicon}}'' expands the concept into a FiveRaces-style typography of Elves, Dwarves, Men, and Hobbits smattered with occasional Wizards and a single specimen of [[LordOfTheRings Gollum]], while ''Literature/{{Anathem}}'' could be considered a near-thousand-page meditation on a similar theme. Not surprisingly, Stephenson's heroes always fall into a technically or theoretically sophisticated caste.

----

He was making a motion-controlled [[http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/260688528/clang swordfighting videogame]]... but [[http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/09/20/thud-development-of-neal-stephensons-clang-halted/ not anymore]]. [[http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDB4_y8Nbf0/UDkqyIVJfLI/AAAAAAAAn_c/GscZ2uuovRI/s1600/Scan10001.JPG Here's]] a [[AwesomenessIsVolatile screen-breaking]] photo with him, NeilGaiman and NeilArmstrong.

He is known for somewhat [[SignatureStyle idiosyncratic pacing]], [[TwoLinesNoWaiting multiple interwoven plots]], doing his research [[ShownTheirWork and sharing it in excruciating detail]], assuming that [[ViewersAreGeniuses his readers are geniuses,]] and a Pynchonesque tendency to [[ThrowItIn throw in]] long, seemingly pointless digressions: a [[Literature/{{Cryptonomicon}} lengthy erotic story]] on antique furniture and stockings, say, or a [[Literature/SnowCrash three-page memo]] regarding the proper use of toilet paper in an office environment. His more recent books also tend to be [[ExpospeakGag practical arguments in favor of electronic books supplanting paper copies]] (read: ''[[DoorStopper long]]''), with ''Cryptonomicon'' coming in at well over 900 pages and ''Anathem'' at nearly the same length before the many [[CallARabbitASmeerp glossaries]] and [[InstructionalDialogue appendices]]. He is widely considered to be rather poor at endings, with many of his novels reaching a climax and then more or less ending immediately afterwards with little to no denouement.

Oh, and, he's currently making a motion-controlled [[http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/260688528/clang swordfighting videogame]]. [[http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDB4_y8Nbf0/UDkqyIVJfLI/AAAAAAAAn_c/GscZ2uuovRI/s1600/Scan10001.JPG Here's]] a [[AwesomenessIsVolatile screen-breaking]] photo with him, NeilGaiman and NeilArmstrong.

A recurring theme in Stephenson's work involves the classification of humanity into a typography of functional castes based on their approach to practical and theoretic knowledge; this is spelled out most explicitly in his novella-length essay ''[[http://artlung.com/smorgasborg/C_R_Y_P_T_O_N_O_M_I_C_O_N.shtml In The Beginning... Was The Command Line]]'', where humanity is divided into ''[[TheTimeMachine Morlocks]]'' (those willing to pursue low-level technical knowledge) and ''[[TheTimeMachine Eloi]]'' (those unwilling to do so). However, the details vary from book to book; ''Literature/{{Cryptonomicon}}'' expands the concept into a FiveRaces-style typography of Elves, Dwarves, Men, and Hobbits smattered with occasional Wizards and a single specimen of [[LordOfTheRings Gollum]], while ''Literature/{{Anathem}}'' could be considered a near-thousand-page meditation on a similar theme. Not surprisingly, Stephenson's heroes always fall into a technically or theoretically sophisticated caste.

Oh, and, he's currently making a motion-controlled [[http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/260688528/clang swordfighting videogame]]. Here's a [[AwesomenessIsVolatile screen-breaking]] photo with him, NeilGaiman and NeilArmstrong.

Oh, and, he's currently making a motion-controlled [[http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/260688528/clang swordfighting videogame]].

He is known for somewhat [[SignatureStyle idiosyncratic pacing]], [[TwoLinesNoWaiting multiple interwoven plots]], doing his research [[ShownTheirWork and sharing it in excruciating detail]], assuming that [[ViewersAreGeniuses his readers are geniuses,]] and a Pynchonesque tendency to [[ThrowItIn throw in]] long, seemingly pointless digressions: a [[{{Cryptonomicon}} lengthy erotic story]] on antique furniture and stockings, say, or a [[Literature/SnowCrash three-page memo]] regarding the proper use of toilet paper in an office environment. His more recent books also tend to be [[ExpospeakGag practical arguments in favor of electronic books supplanting paper copies]] (read: ''[[DoorStopper long]]''), with ''Cryptonomicon'' coming in at well over 900 pages and ''Anathem'' at nearly the same length before the many [[CallARabbitASmeerp glossaries]] and [[InstructionalDialogue appendices]]. He is widely considered to be rather poor at endings, with many of his novels reaching a climax and then more or less ending immediately afterwards with little to no denouement.

A recurring theme in Stephenson's work involves the classification of humanity into a typography of functional castes based on their approach to practical and theoretic knowledge; this is spelled out most explicitly in his novella-length essay ''[[http://artlung.com/smorgasborg/C_R_Y_P_T_O_N_O_M_I_C_O_N.shtml In The Beginning... Was The Command Line]]'', where humanity is divided into ''[[TheTimeMachine Morlocks]]'' (those willing to pursue low-level technical knowledge) and ''[[TheTimeMachine Eloi]]'' (those unwilling to do so). However, the details vary from book to book; ''{{Cryptonomicon}}'' expands the concept into a FiveRaces-style typography of Elves, Dwarves, Men, and Hobbits smattered with occasional Wizards and a single specimen of [[LordOfTheRings Gollum]], while ''{{Anathem}}'' could be considered a near-thousand-page meditation on a similar theme. Not surprisingly, Stephenson's heroes always fall into a technically or theoretically sophisticated caste.

* ''TheBigU''

* ''TheBaroqueCycle''
* ''{{Anathem}}''
* ''{{Reamde}}''

* ''{{Cryptonomicon}}''

* ''TheDiamondAge''