November 20, 2003

• And speaking of narratives, I wanted to mention that I'm still reading 'Quicksilver.' I'm somewhere in the page 500 range.

  The first section of the book was all about stuff I wanted to know more about: The origins of science in European culture, the cultural transition it implies, the lives and lifestyles of scientist/alchemists in the 1600s. And I got a little more than I bargained for in that first section, because Stephenson's genius is putting you splat in the middle of hugely complicated scenarios and explaining how all the things are connected, and sometimes this activity can really stretch your patience. However, there's usually a payoff in terms of entertainment and of understanding.

  The second section is more romance novel than dissertation, which is a welcome change, but also leaves you wishing the main character, a vagabond named Half-Cocked Jack Shaftoe (so called because he literally has half a cock), were more capable of thinking high-minded science-y thoughts. He eventually makes the acquaintance of a woman named Eliza who is adept at understanding business and markets, and so she gets to explain the newly capitalist economy of western Europe to Jack (and us). She also gets to start wars and profit from them.

  These two characters eventually make acquaintance with many of the same characters that Daniel Waterhouse (the main character of the first section) knows, and if you can remember back 500 pages, it's interesting to see how the lives of these people have indirectly affected each other.

  Mostly, however, the storytelling is rich and excellent and over-the-top, particularly since Jack has syphilis and is going insane in increments. (Mild spoiler: ..... Last night I read a section where Jack is returning to Paris, and the scene surrounding him turns into a huge musical number, all in his head. It made me think of 'The Singing Detective.')

  I hope the last third won't let me down...

  • 12:21 am
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