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nullset's review
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
ericbuscemi's review against another edition
4.0
Zodiac was a bit muddled at points, with a large, mixed cast of eco-terrorists, corporate drones, scientists, and blue-collar Bostonians dropping in and out of the story, but overall it was a fast, exhilarating thrill-ride -- not too dissimilar from riding an actual zodiac.
It was reminiscent in a way to the cable television show Leverage, and if it were the show, it would have broken up nicely into three episodes -- the Swiss Bastards Job in Blue Kills, New Jersey; the Boner Chemicals Job in Buffalo, New York; and the Basco/Biotronics Job Boston, Mass.
It was reminiscent in a way to the cable television show Leverage, and if it were the show, it would have broken up nicely into three episodes -- the Swiss Bastards Job in Blue Kills, New Jersey; the Boner Chemicals Job in Buffalo, New York; and the Basco/Biotronics Job Boston, Mass.
loonyboi's review against another edition
3.0
This was decent. I liked the main character's voice, which at times takes on almost Hunter S. Thompson levels of mania. The plot was weird and somewhat nonsensical, and a few characters drifted out only to show up right at the end. Worth reading, but not one of Stephenson's best.
thurminator's review against another edition
4.0
I found this one to be engaging from beginning to end. The premise is solid, and while it comes across as a bit naive 25 years later, the story here is enjoyable enough to settle into. The main character and most of his friends/colleagues are aggressively likable and mostly well-written. You can see the pedal to the metal writing style Stephenson is known for starting to take shape here and it serves the pacing well. I had a friend say that this would have made a great 80s movie, and I wholeheartedly agree - this is exactly the kind of book we have here.
feanor451's review
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
neilsarver's review against another edition
4.0
I imagine an alternate universe in which this book was more successful and the publisher commissioned a whole series of Sangamon Taylor books. I can also picture the failed early-'90s TV show loosely based on the books that ran for a season on Fox or USA, and got canceled just as it started showing a hint of its potential.
lunaseassecondaccount's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to enjoy this book as I do like Neal Stephenson, but this book just didn't do it for me. I really got into it for about fifty or so odd pages, between the time the soupy lobsters were found and S.T. was flung from his boat, and then it became dull again.
I think part of it is the pacing issues. Some parts were just hurriedly skipped over, and certain other parts didn't make sense. I found many of the characters got muddled together, and I had a difficult time picking them all apart. If I read it a second time, I'd probably have an easier time, but between them going every which way and suddenly jumping in different locations, it was difficult to keep it all together.
Needless to say, I enjoy his later work.
I think part of it is the pacing issues. Some parts were just hurriedly skipped over, and certain other parts didn't make sense. I found many of the characters got muddled together, and I had a difficult time picking them all apart. If I read it a second time, I'd probably have an easier time, but between them going every which way and suddenly jumping in different locations, it was difficult to keep it all together.
Needless to say, I enjoy his later work.
alekscanard's review against another edition
4.0
I never would've thought a story about a guy who analyses water for chemicals would be interesting, but Zodiac is one hell of a thriller backed by science and cutting wit.