There are some lengthy books that don't seem as long as they really are because you are riveted to the story from page one. But this is not one of them. In general, I like Stephenson's books but this one was a bit of a slog. There is a lot of intellectual argument on philosophical questions and speculation on technological subjects which are occasionally interesting and sometimes amusing. Stephenson uses terms that are "close to English" (glossary included) in this world of "Saeculars," the common people in the society and "Avouts," the thinkers, mathematicians, and scientists who have been segregated into a monastery type existence because of fear of their technical knowledge. The real storyline doesn't begin until about a third of the way through the book when the main character, Fraa Erasmus (Raz), and other Avouts end up on a mission to save the planet. There is even a bit of a love story in the mix. By the end I was eager to see how it was all going to turn out. I just wish it hadn't been such a long trip to get there.
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