Line #3 Creator/NealStephenson


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/neal_stephenson_shave.jpg]]
2
3	Neal Town Stephenson (born October 31, 1959) is a ''very tall man,'' as well as the author of (in chronological order of publishing):
4	[[index]]
5	* ''Literature/TheBigU''
6	* ''Literature/{{Zodiac\|1988}}''
7	* ''Literature/SnowCrash''
8	* ''Literature/TheDiamondAge''
9	* ''Literature/{{Cryptonomicon}}''
10	* ''Literature/TheBaroqueCycle''
11	* ''Literature/{{Anathem}}''
12	* ''Literature/{{Reamde}}''
13	* ''Literature/{{Seveneves}}''
14	* ''Literature/TheRiseAndFallOfDODO''
15	* ''Literature/FallOrDodgeInHell''
16	* ''Literature/TerminationShock''
17	[[/index]]
18	* Assorted other novels, short stories, and non-fiction works
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20	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]]. Impressively, he is also known for penning his novels longhand, more or less straight through, from beginning to end, with minimal revision. 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.
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22	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 StandardFantasyRaces-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.
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24	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 Neil Armstrong.

Context Creator / NealStephenson