4 Stars
"Anybody can write a three-volumed novel. It merely requires a complete ignorance of both life and literature."
-Oscar Wilde
Well, perhaps that's a bit too harsh. The truth is that overall I enjoyed Neal Stephenson's "Quicksilver," even though at times I was frustrated by its slow pace. "Quicksilver" has all of the complexity and detail that made "Cryptonomicon" impressive, but relatively little of the humor and action that made it such an engaging and entertaining read. I was torn between 3 or 4 stars, and decided to be generous since it's only the first volume of the gigantic "Baroque Cycle." I am hoping (expecting, really) that things will pull together in the future volumes, and much that seems tedious and unnecessary in this 900-page monster will fall into place.
Even though it's only a third of the Cycle, "Quicksilver" is still made up of no less than three distinct books -- "Quicksilver," "King of the Vagabonds" and "Odalisque." "Quicksilver" (the book and the volume) opens in 1713, when the mysterious Enoch Root arrives in Massachusetts to summon Daniel Waterhouse back to Europe, apparently to try to settle the famous feud between Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz. As Daniel is chased around the north Atlantic by Edward "Blackbeard" Teach, he goes over his memories of the 1660s and early 1670s, during which time he became Newton's assistant, a member of the Royal Society, and one of the most prominent Puritan dissidents of the Restoration.
We then abandon Daniel for twelve years and 275 pages, to travel with the aptly named "Half-Cocked" Jack Shaftoe, the "King of the Vagabonds," as he heads to Vienna to defend Christendom from the Turk -- and do a bit of looting on the side. At Vienna he rescues Eliza, Turkish harem slave (odalisque) originally from Qwghlm, and the two of them make their slow way back across Europe. Eventually they reach Amsterdam, where Eliza shows herself a shrewd investor, begins to build a financial empire, and dedicates herself to the eradication of slavery. Jack, meanwhile, sails off to sea, to reappear in the Cycle's second volume.
The third book, "Odalisque," in which Daniel and Eliza both play prominent roles in the 'Glorious Revolution' of 1688-1689, makes the slog through the first 600 pages more or less worthwhile. Eliza is now sent to spy at the court of Louis XIV at Versailles, while Daniel plays courtier to James II and organizes his Revolution. Although the Revolution makes for a conclusion of a sort, relatively little is resolved, and plenty is set up for the next volume.
The main theme in "The Baroque Cycle" seems to be the development of the modern world -- modern finance, modern politics and modern science. The conflict between alchemy (represented by Newton) and the new 'natural philosophy' of Leibniz and his supporters promises to be central to the coming volumes. Lurking in the background is the mysterious 'Enoch the Red,' for all we know, immortal and omniscient. Those who have read "Cryptonomicon" will recognize Enoch, note that "The Baroque Cycle's" main characters seem to be the ancestors of the stars of "Cryptonomicon," and wonder whether there are deeper connections.
Do I recommend "Quicksilver?" It depends, I suppose. The book can be trying, but five-star moments are many (and far between). I was especially impressed by the way Stephenson weaves together his plot and fictional characters with the actual events and personalities of the time. Occasional epistolary chapters (in which the story is told through letters written by the main characters) make for more interesting reading, especially in "Odalisque." There are a number of footnotes (annoying in a novel, but probably necessary to help the reader keep track of everything), some maps and genealogical charts, as well as a ten-page long Dramatis Personae (very helpful, especially since it distinguishes between fact and fiction).
If you have read and enjoyed "Cryptonomicon," "The Baroque Cycle" is the obvious next step. Otherwise, I suggest you check out "Cryptonomicon" first -- I found it more accessible and more entertaining, and reading it will let you decide whether or not you enjoy Stephenson's style. And, as I mentioned, there may well be connections between the tomes. An interest in early modern European (especially British) history is definitely a plus, and a significant amount of free time an absolute necessity.
(14 June 2004)
