I just finished reading "The Confusion" by Neal Stephenson. This is the second book in a trilogy, what the author deems "The Baroque Cycle."
Apparently, Stephenson has decided to give Solsynetsyn a run for his money, by writing books in multiples of 500 pages. Toward that end, The Confusion does not disappoint.
It begins with the followng Author's Note:
"This volume contains two novels, Bonanza and Juncto, that take place concurrently during the span 1689-1702. Rather than present one, then the other (which would force the reader to jump back to 1689 in mid-volume), I have interleaved sections of one with sections of the otherso that the two stories move forward in synchrony. It is hoped that being thus con-fused shall render them less confusing to the reader."
This is a writing style that Stephenson has used before in Cryptonomicon, and he indeed uses it well. the Confusion picks up where Quicksilver (the first book in the trilogy) left off, with Juncto following the exploits of the cunning, brilliant and beautiful Eliza as she insinuates herself into the European nobility and uses her understanding of commerce to plot the rise and fall of her allies and foes; and Bonanza tracing the steps of Jack Shaftoe, King of the Vagabonds, as he crosses the globe finding a trouble of wealth and a wealth of trouble.
There are many background characters, some of whom cross over between the two stories. Daniel Waterhouse, who featured prominently in Quicksilver, takes a less prominent role; as does Isaac Newton -- though both are set for a comeback in the third book. Character development is clearly a strong suit for Stephenson. Jack's partners in crime are each interesting in their own right, and the author indulges in digressions to tell those tales.
Like Quicksilver (and The daVinci Code, for that matter), the Confusion is historical fiction. Stephenson aptly blends 17th century context and historical figures (from Newton and Leibniz to King Louis XIV and William of Orange) together with a host of characters of his own creation with their own plots, schemes, and contributions to key events.
This trilogy is shaping up to be the Tour De France of fiction. Stephenson pummels us with breadth and depth of background information informing the tales he spins -- often to the point of smothering us. The first half of the Confusion, like Quicksilver, could arguably be criticized as too deep in detail and it is easy to lose the trail (and to lose interest). But (with apologies to Lance Armstrong) it's not about the book; The Baroque Cycle is a metaphor for life in the 17th century and is an antidote for anyone who believes that life must have been so much simpler back then. No, people weren't stupid in the 17th century; the intelligence and complexities of human endeavors simply wove their tapestries with the materials available to them at the time. In a world where data is scarce, deductive reasoning and good experimental procedures are highly valuable. And while commerce today is still about exploiting market inefficiencies, in a world 300 years ago where the inefficiencies were so great and numerous, a little bit of knowledge, a fair amount of cunning, and a hearty disposition will carry you through successfully, and to great profit, in the end.
This is not a book to sprint through. To be sure there are some flatlands and some downhill slopes to coast through, but there are some mountains to climb over as well. There were certainly times, particularly early on, where I was indeed confused. But overall it's an improvement over Quicksilver, and it is a classic Stephenson novel with the expected con-fusion of hard science, captivating characters, and rollicking adventure. I highly recommend it.
11:42:33 AM  ; ;
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