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When Neal Stephenson finished Cryptonomicon, he was so in love with some of the characters he created he decided to indulge his "phant'sies" by allowing them to live again in a work of heavily researched historical fiction. Because he had a proven track record of best-sellers, his publisher allowed him to proceed.
Thus the Baroque Cycle was born.
Trouble is, you really have to love Neal Stephenson to enjoy Quicksilver. If you believe he is god's gift to print then I suggest you immediately sell your children, buy the complete series, and maroon yourself on a desert island.
If you've never read Neal Stephenson, then run as fast as you can from this book.
If you somewhere in between the two then you may want to flip a coin. My experience was less than stellar. My main complaints:
1) The parade of Famous Important Personages was mildly interesting at first; then the list grew so long I quit caring. Yes, thank you, I understand Daniel Waterhouse met ever single frikkin' Famous Important Personage that existed in the late 17th century.
2) Misplaced historical vernacular drove me up the wall. I understand using a sprinkling of "authentik olde Engishisms" in dialog, but shoehorning it into non-narrative descriptive text just makes the work slow to read.
3) The book's depressing uniformity made me fall asleep every time. Open the book to page at random and you will discover: Daniel met some Famous Important Personages. Daniel talked with some Famous Important Personages about some Interesting Aspect of Natural Philosophy. Daniel reflected upon some Interesting Aspect of Natural Philosophy. Daniel went someplace else. This happens over and over again, ad infinitum.
I'm not trying to say Quicksilver is not a good book. I'm just attempting to point out that if it doesn't hook you, then you've effectively bought an uninteresting block of wood pulp.
I guess it all boils down to how much you are willing to indulge the artist.
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