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The Confusion (The Baroque Cycle, Vol. 2)
The Confusion - The Baroque Cycle, Vol. 2
Author: Neal Stephenson
In the year 1689, a cabal of Barbary galley slaves -- including one Jack Shaftoe, a.k.a. King of the Vagabonds, a.k.a. Half-Cocked Jack, lately and miraculously cured of the pox -- devises a daring plan to win freedom and fortune. A great adventure ensues, rife with battles, chases, hairbreadth escapes, swashbuckling, bloodletting, and danger --...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780060599348
ISBN-10: 0060599340
Publication Date: 2/1/2005
Pages: 816
Edition: Limited
Rating:
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0 stars, based on 0 rating
Publisher: William Morrow
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback
Members Wishing: 2
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review
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althea avatar reviewed The Confusion (The Baroque Cycle, Vol. 2) on + 774 more book reviews
Second in "The Baroque Cycle" (or, the 4th and 5th books in it, to use Stephenson's reckoning).
I didn't find this to be a quick read.
Stephenson IS a good writer, and the book is really filled with interesting thoughts and turns of phrase. But it just doesn't move you along in the way an entertaining novel ought to - while at the same time being filled with a series of Most Unlikely events and coincidences, sprawling loosely here and there, flitting about the world, mixing historical fact with stereotypes and fiction.

In a way, it's too much about concept, I think. The characters are more Dickensian caricatures than "real" people. Overall, it seems to be trying to be a sort of adventure/thriller about finance and economics... and I don't feel it really worked as well as it could have.
AZmee avatar reviewed The Confusion (The Baroque Cycle, Vol. 2) on + 65 more book reviews
Really well written and a bunch of fun...adventures of the 17th Century from England, France, Japan, India, etc. It goes all over the map with convulutions you won't believe. Now that I have read # 2 of the series I have requested the # 1 and will be looing for #3. I have just ordered new the #3 in this series...it will be up as soon as its read.
reviewed The Confusion (The Baroque Cycle, Vol. 2) on + 61 more book reviews
If you are a Neal Stephenson fan, you will love this series - very deep plots and great characters, set it the late 17th / early 18th century, mainly in western Europe, but with adventures all over the world.


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