Unintended Consequences - does it eventually get good?

I liked the past better than the present too. This quote sums up the present part perfectly...

The rest was the stuff of juvenile fantasy, strippers and all.

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I'll post my offer again: Billmanweh sent his copy to me to read. I'll send it on, at my expense, to anyone who'll agree to do likewise when he's done.

PM me if you'd like to be next.

. . . does it eventually get good?

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Nope, poorly written all the way through.

Nobody warned me that it started slowly, that it was poorly written and that it was boring.

So I enjoyed the whole thing, from cover to cover.

Kamicosmos, I thought that Cryptonomicon was too short; I've read it at least five times. You might not like The Baroque Cycle, then. Either way, Stephenson's another author who tries to get the guns right.

Allow me to put in a plug for another 2nd Amd novel:



The one I wrote.

Happy Bob:

Yes, Stephenson does write very well. It's very easy to visualize what he's talking about. I like the WWII story and characters (gun stuff has been accurate so far) for the most part, and I see where he's going with the two story lines. It just seems to be a bit much on the detail. And the modern day story is too much like reading Minute Notes from some of the infrastructure teleconferences I used to participate in when I was a Server Admin... Hopefully it will pick up the pace a bit. I mean, 3 pages describing One Bite of Capt'n Crunch? How does that move the plot along?

I have already decided to not get into The Baroque Cycle. I also had trouble getting through Diamond Age. I haven't read Snow Crash. I'd like to, but after DA and now Crypto...I don't think I'll go for it. It's ashame for me, cause I really dig hard core sci-fi, modern day conspiracy thrillers, computer stuff, action, and good descriptive writing.

It's almost like Stephenson is too much of what I like or something...


(Now returning to the UC discussion, already in progress.)

Unintended Consequences just wouldn't work without the historical content. In order to appreciate the latter the former needs to be laid out for a reference. Just remember never start a book like this if you have to work the next day.

Nor really. In fact, I'll sell my copy for $10 shipped.

Someone somewhere has a free hardbound copy (did it ever go into softcover?) of Unintended Consequences, courtesy of a boneheaded friend of mine. I had loaned him my copy, which he put into the trunk of his grandmother's car. She had given him the car, and he drove it from NY to DC, but soon sold it. He sold it with the book, and a hemp rope doormat I had made by hand, in the trunk.

Now what kind of idiot sells a car to someone without clearing out the trunk in its entirety?! AND fails to reconnoiter a $30+ hardcover book that his friend loaned him?! GRRR!

So I did what would naturally behoove a gun lover: I bought another copy, for another $30+, at the next gun show, from the same vendor who had sold me the first one. I still haven't re-read it, but I want to. It's great "fantasy" material for a gun-and-freedom lover.

Oh, and I liked how Art Eatman said "injustice" instead of "government." The book is really about the American people rising up against INJUSTICE, not just government in general.

-Jeffrey

I read Unintended Consequences cover to cover stopping only for bathroom breaks and a few hours sleep. I was ravenous and needed a bath when I finally finished it. I found the entire book interesting.

On a side note, Kamicosmos, you should definitely read Snow Crash. It is not nearly as bizarre as The Diamond Age. There is a little more action as well and the characters are interesting. (The Baroque Cycle bored me to tears so I gave up after 200 pages.)

Those who think it was boring, I don't mean to be insulting, but does everything have to be a friggin circus of mental masturbation?

Great historical content in the first part, having the gradual erosion of our rights in one volume is chilling and puts it in context of where we are now.

The rest was a great entertainment as far as I am concerned. Anyone with an interest in the future of our country needs to read this.

What's with the online copy of the book? Does John know it's up there? (He posts here sometimes). If so, damn nice of him to give his work away for free!

Also, lemme chime in that Travis's book "Enemies Foreign and Domestic" is worth reading for those who have not. I enjoyed it quite a bit! Email him and he'll sell ya a signed copy!

I borrowed a copy from the Tucson Pubic Lilliberry, read & enjoyed it enough that when Amazon.com had a sale on Paulson's Suppressor books going on I bought it too.


http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0873649095/002-8993635-3408834

I recently finished "Patriots, Surviving the Coming Collapse", now I am reading "Enemies Foriegn and Domestic", next i am going to re-read "Unintended Consequences", I just LOVE to read stuff like this, but to each his own I guess......tom

I thought that the first half was the best. I know that it is sometimes disjointed, but the whole gun culture build up really explains a lot later on. The Present Day section picks up speed like a rocket, though I found some of it troubling.

It's a great book, but I think that the first half it the best. Perhaps the first 700 pages should be required reading in school (imagine the libs jumping over that).

I also don't eat bacon anymore.

The history is fascinating.
Mauserguy

I like the book. When I felt myself getting bored, I just looked at the cover....hubba hubba!

Didn't find it boring

I read it three times and didn't find it boring. He's trying to make a statement about the gun culture in this country. I loved the detail about the different kinds of firearms and their loads.

I did not find it boring either...

But then I enjoyed James Michners works like "Chesapeake" and "The Tell", lots of historical detail and spans lots of time.

Travis: Any updates on the sequel?

When I felt myself getting bored, I just looked at the cover....hubba hubba!

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Hmmm, I dunnow about that Jmurman, maybe you should seek PROFESSIONAL HELP.

"Free" online version

I was one of the folks that read the online version a couple of years ago. Went out and bought the book. I doubt I would have without seeing it online.

I read the online version

But I wouldn't want to make a habit out of doing that. 700+ pages online gets a little hard on the eyes.

I read a loaner copy before I went and purchased my own hard cover copy + one for the local library..... they haven't had any complaints that I am aware of. I couldn't put it down... guess it's time for me to pull the plasic off the new copy and go for a ride. (slow part and all - gotta go slow to go fast)
Oh - and here is this too...
http://www.john-ross.net/

Glad to know I am not that far off plumb. I enjoyed the first part more simply because of the personal interaction with my heroes. I know it is fiction, but I grew up reading Elmer Keith and the other greats of the day, so it was a good flashback for me. I read the whole thing over the Thanksgiving weekend this year.
I thought it was a good enough read I bought one for my best shooting buddy for Christmas,and I haven't even bought my own yet. It is not the best book ever, but it is on my top ten favorites list.
Now if I can just get a copy of that "other" book that was mentioned... It's on my list for this winter.

Travis McGee -

Quit wasting time putting up plugs for EFAD and get back to work on the sequel. Inquiring minds really want to follow the further adventures of Ranya.

Jim

I gotta start reading it again. Never got the hardcopy, was just reading the .pdf online somewhere, and that's a little hard on the eyes.

I read Cryptonomicon and loved it. I'm halfway though Quicksilver, and it's not nearly as good.

-James

count me was one of the 'hooked on page 1' types.

"boring" historical minutiae, gun related, count me in
All the stuff about airplanes, double rifles, aerial trick shooting, varminters, etc. I totally loved.

atek3