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For those misled at school to think Orwell really only wrote two books of note (AF and 1984), this is book is essential reading. It is a brilliant - and moving - condemnation of imperialism and bigotry. It allows for the idea that the colonial hegemonic mindset arose out of bigotry, but also how men like the protagonist Flory are required to perpetuate that hegemony and thus be obliged to become corrupted by the bigotry. It is clear Orwell saw Britain's domination of Burma as an elaborate confidence trick, which made corrupt fools of the Burmese and bullying bigots of the British. When the system is devoid of reason and legitimacy, humanity loses colour and meaning.

At a time when some people in Britain hark back to Empire as a sort of necessary educational outreach exercise (someone had to bring the bible and clean underwear to the savage), this book is even more relevant that ever.

Well, that was a rush. Just finished the book 5 minutes ago. I rate it 5 stars+ for sheer force of imagination, and 4 stars for characterisation, which gets slightly overwhelmed by the huge scope of the concepts in the book.

I had not heard of Neal Stephenson until I was looking for recommendations for books that would wean me off my commitment to Iain (M) Banks and David Mitchell. I was not entirely sure I knew what 'steampunk' meant, and I had not yet encountered what was described as 'hard' science fiction. I am not sure if I am any the wiser now.

The great things about this book are the strong female protagonist, imaginative yet coherent 'alternative universe' dystopia, and some decent science. The later parts of the primer involving Turing Machines are especially good. The whole story is really about a programmer writing a programme that will then be able to run and write its own programme on itself - thus transcending the Turing machine paradox. The mechanical rods and drums of the Turing machine are replaced by networks of humans, child development, cultural peculiarities and, most strangely, mass orgies. I cannot explain it better than that.

But it has a plucky heroine, some great action, page-turning suspense, heart-breaking drama (verging on melodrama - which is one of Stephenson's weaknesses) and is quite funny in places. The idea that British stiff upper lip and emotional coolness will have become the dominant cultural force in the world is especially encouraging. It's nice to read science fiction that does not assume we all become American. In this story, to be successful you need to be Victorian or Confucian.