I really loved Stephenson’s earlier, most technology-centered books, and he intrigued me with the monastic/logic-driven world in Anathem. In this latest, he returns to his cyberpunk, geeky roots, but also ventures into contemporary thriller territory -- very successfully, in my opinion! This novel has a little bit of everything: a virtual world online game (complete with wizard mages, warrior trolls, and everything else you’d hope for); the Russian mafia; international entrepreneurs; dueling sci-fi authors; spies; a kick-ass Eritrean refugee orphan-turned-midwesterner; a giant, gentlemanly Hungarian hacker; a fearless, slang-slinging Chinese tea hustler; and terrorists. And oh, how he brings it all together!

For all the delicious nerdiness (linguistic battles over the nomenclature in the virtual fantasy world, geological modelling, the economics of on-line games), this book really does work as a traditional thriller, with shoot-outs, explosions, kidnapping, and other adrenaline-filled scenes deployed to maximum advantage. Even though Reamde weighs in at hefty 1,056 pages, it flew by. (Although I do have to admit to skimming some of the bits about bears.)

If you’re looking for a meaty, satisfying thriller with realistic computer science and over-the-top action, this is the book for you. And don’t worry: the title is explained early on, and it really does make sense; Stephenson’s not just screwing with us. ~Tegan