The Cobweb

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Well-written. Great story line. But not all the bad guys got what was coming to them.

Fans of Stephenson's Snow Crash and The Big U will probably like this for the simple reason that the same sense of gross exaggeration and pinpoint satire is quite prevalent. Quite simply, Stephenson has some fun with this, from his character's names (Desiree Dhont) to 400 pound wrestling freaks.But amongst all the fun there is a more serious bulwark that Stephenson attempts to pierce with this satire cum thriller, that of just how the American intelligence agencies really work (or don't). Starting in 1990, the book covers the national and international events leading up to and through the beginning of the serious start of Gulf War I, with the major lynchpin of the plot revolving around just why there are so many Iraqi students working for their graduate degree at a small mid-west college.For a satire to be effective, there needs to be at least a small kernel of truth buried under all the barbs - and the portrait painted here of just how the CIA, FBI, NSA, and the rest of the alphabet soup really work is frightening because events that have occurred since this book was written (long before 9/11 and WMD intelligence made headlines) show that this portrait, rather than being a gross exaggeration generated by one (or two, in this case) fevered author's mind, is painfully accurate. It is a sad commentary on our government agencies that shows that initiative and proper application of discerning, probing minds to the mass of raw data these agencies receive, rather than being appropriately acted upon and the initiator properly rewarded, is instead bound around by `study' groups, stonewallers, credit grabbers, disavowed by everyone who stands to lose a smidgen of status because they were not the originators, denigrated, have their careers short-circuited, and in short are `cobwebbed'. There is also some sharp commentary on just how foreign policy is formed and implemented, and should be a wakeup reminder to people that the US supported Saddam's regime for a long time merely to have a counterweight to Iran.As a story, this is a pretty good thriller, with a basic story line that is quite believable (as long as you can recognize when Stephenson is having another flight of grand exaggeration). The characterization of the deputy sheriff and the poor low-level GS-11 Washington analyst is good, and the situations they fall into actually proceed quite logically from one point to the next. Most of the rest of the characters are pretty thinly drawn, and in a few cases are mere stereotypes, but they perform their job of moving the plot along pretty well.Not as good as Snow Crash, but it comes close.---Reviewed by Patrick Shepherd (hyperpat)

This was a great read that I couldn’t put down. There are some great characters without giving away anything. Stephenson’s early books have a different style that I like. He is a great story teller. I highly recommend Cobweb.

I enjoyed this novel. Like with most of Stephenson's works, it's about the journey more than the destination. He includes so many interesting facts and situations in his novels, and this one is no exception. And unlike some of his recent works, this one doesn't get bogged down for a few hundred pages in the middle.The title refers to how you can render someone powerless without actually harming them, as if they were completely restrained by cobwebs.The story is set in the lead-up to the Gulf War in the early '90s, and centers around the "actual" weapons of mass destruction. But what sets this novel apart is all the interesting stuff you get along the way. It was a fun read. I give it 5/5 stars. Recommended.

This was a great read; a standard thriller plot done with Stephenson's gift for being wonderfully discursive. A staple theme of Stephenson's work is an exploration of the power of an individual to change the world. Here a deputy county sheriff manages to do what many more powerful individuals could not. But what makes this a stand-out book is the humor--the author cannot resist the urge to comment on the absurdities of power politics and he is genuinely funny. And, if the 9/11 commission report is to be believed, Stephenson hit the nail on the head in his portrayal of our government's intelligence apparatus.Yet, despite dysfunctional governmental agencies and the intrigue of shallow bureaucrats; it all boils down to protecting one's own. In Stephenson's world a quick thinking and honest individual will always prevail--that is a world in which I feel comfortable.Now, just a note: The ostensibly Mormon Vandeventers' involvement with alcohol is about as likely as the Muslim characters roasting a pig on a spit. Nor would any BYU students be found in the only bar in Provo, Utah. Just isn't done... Wouldn't be prudent.

This is a "ok" book, but it takes too long to start the "real business". It seems that authors were playing characters around and them suddenly realized "well, we need a history", and then compete to find something of interest. As a light reading is ok, but is completely below the stuff Neal Stephenson writes. Actually, I usually don't like much collaborative writings and this is no exception to the rule.Also, there are some side histories that really add nothing to the book and add too much text to it.I don't recommend buying it, or also not buying it. I am sure that it could lead to a good film, although the Bush government setting is too old now. Probably it needed a better editor, not better writers.

Captivating book. The story flowed smoothly, there was never any attempt to impress me with their vocabulary. The characters were were developed. Recommended whole heartedly.

Well written, the characters are convincing, I really enjoyed this book