Finished Cryptonomicon

Delightful, and quite relevant to my own dreams of becoming an anonymous financial adviser and investment service via e-Cache. Stephenson wisely gives up rather than explain how the fuck Epiphyte(2) proposes to hold their golden river vs. everybody with a gun in the Phillippines. One appreciates him ending on the high note and leaving the ensuing slaughter of main characters subliminal.

I remain skeptical of autobiographical nerd Randy's romances, but Shaftoe was a badass so we'll let that pass. Randy served his purpose, skewering the rigid consensus addicted liberal socialites and egalitarian girlfriend.

My major conclusion is I should read up on American business law, for it is better to give the umlaut than receive it, as Rudy well knows.

Just one question: Didn't Enoch Root DIE on the table in Sweden? WTF.

Some gems from the book's back end:

"You and I see just that someone is trying to fuck me over and that I need to get out of jail. Very simple and clean. But to her, it is much more than that—it is an opportunity to have a conversation!"
"But this is not so bad," Attorney Alejandro says, radiating insincerity like a mirrored ball in a disco.

One of his minions eventually had Randy sign a legal disclaimer stipulating that it was perfectly all right if the oral surgeon decided to feed Randy’s entire body into a log chipper,

He arouses violent controversy among a loose flock of chickens that is straggling across his path, none of whom can seem to figure out how to get out of his way; they’re scared of him, but not mentally organized enough to translate that fear into a coherent plan of action.