I am pleased that Neal Stephenson has finally convinced his publisher that a series of 300 page volumes is preferable to a single 900 to 1200 page tome. However, since the story contained in the first volume of Stephenson’s new “Bomb Light series” is really just the back story for the main character, it is difficult to review. I will say that this first volume is told with Stephenson’s characteristic flair, and with skillful arrangement. Exposition is accomplished through flashback, and history (and History) combines with forward narrative at a steady pace until we are all caught up and ready for the drama to shift into racing gear. Even when you are expecting the end of the volume to occur, since with physical books it is unavoidable to notice when it is near, the turn that breaks act one from act two is somewhat surprising. Leave it to Stephenson to create characters who surprise even themselves with their sense of dramatic turn!
Anyway, the “Polo” of the title really does refer to the game of Polo, as played on ponies, and the “stan” really does refer to a culturally unified geographic region (a capital-S “State”, if you will). The main character is a Wyoming pony-trainer outlaw communist operative hero of the highest order, and her manipulations bring the State of Polostan into existence just when she needs it to make the leap from state of mind into (fictional) reality.
There’s no way for me to tell where all this is going. Even Stephenson only vaguely refers to the “shape of this thing”. However, the characters are fully aware of Things that are Important, and I expect them to follow through on their personal histories with decision and aplomb.
This is a reasonably quick read, with a good foundation in world history and a strong plot with a relatable main character. Aurora is not a genius, but she is smart and brave. She does what she needs to survive, but she cares for others and tries to limit the harm to the uninvolved. A real hero! I hope she survives.
Stephenson rarely disappoints.
Did my post get linked to from somewhere? It’s pretty rare for me to receive comments.
I have absolute trust in Neal Stephenson’s ability to craft a tale worth reading.
I can’t say my trust is “absolute”. All his books have been “worth reading”, but I have enjoyed some of his books more than others. I didn’t even bother to review Termination Shock when I read it, because I was not sure (and am still not sure) if I would recommend it. I’m one of those people who tell people that they have, have, have to read all 2700 pages of the Baroque Cycle! I enjoyed Anathem to pieces, but I thought Seveneves had some weaknesses. So, you know… opinions vary.
I actually think that the variety of opinions demonstrate that Stephenson is an author worth paying attention to. If he was just cranking out pulp novels for the money, nobody would bother having an opinion. If he had written a single flawless masterpiece and then never published another book there wouldn’t even be anything to have opinions about.
Can’t agree with the positive outlook here, unfortunately. The point of no return for me was using Feynman as a character…worse than the Neil deGrasse Tyson analogue in Seveneves, and his contribution to the plot is cringe AF.
The writing seems to be on the wall for Aurora to infiltrate the Manhattan Project (Bomb Light, duh?) in Vol. 2, which feels like well trod ground since Oppenheimer.
I feel like there’s always room for one more take on historical events. The events around the Manhattan Project were recounted and dramatized plenty of times before Oppenheimer, but seeing that much-told story with Oppenheimer’s personal story as it’s core was a valuable way to re-present that information. Seeing all these events from over Aurora’s shoulder, though her unique personal history, is similarly refreshing.
This is why I usually wait until a trilogy or series is complete before I start reading them.
Agreed. I’m in the middle of too many series as it is, so of which have been running since the 1980’s (Brust, Hodgel) and at least one of which will never be finished (Rosenberg). I was unable to help myself with this one, though.