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Quicksilver

Book One of The Baroque Cycle

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Quicksilver

Written by: Neal Stephenson
Narrated by: Neal Stephenson (introduction), Kevin Pariseau, Simon Prebble
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In this first volume of Neal Stephenson’s genre-defying epic, Daniel Waterhouse, fearless thinker and courageous Puritan, pursues knowledge in the company of the greatest minds of Baroque-era Europe in a chaotic world where reason wars with the bloody ambitions of the mighty, and where catastrophe, natural or otherwise, can alter the political landscape overnight.

The Baroque Cycle, Neal Stephenson’s award-winning series, spans the late 17th and early 18th centuries, combining history, adventure, science, invention, piracy, and alchemy into one sweeping tale. It is a gloriously rich, entertaining, and endlessly inventive historical epic populated by the likes of Isaac Newton, William of Orange, Benjamin Franklin, and King Louis XIV, along with some of the most inventive literary characters in modern fiction.

Audible’s complete and unabridged presentation of The Baroque Cycle was produced in cooperation with Neal Stephenson. Each volume includes an exclusive introduction read by the author.

©2003 Neal Stephenson (P)2010 Audible, Inc. Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Science Fiction Royalty Middle Ages Mathematics War Imperialism
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What the critics say

“[The “Baroque Cycle”] will defy any category, genre, precedent, or label – except genius….Stephenson has a once-in-a-generation gift: he makes complex ideas clear, and he makes them funny, heartbreaking, and thrilling.” ( Time)
“A book of immense ambition, learning, and scope, Quicksilver is often brilliant and occasionally astonishing in its evocation of a remarkable time and place.” ( Washington Post Book World)
All stars
Most Relevant
if you are in to Neal Stephenson you will love it.
four more words !

good book

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Stephenson brings a transitional period of history to life and entertains as much as he educates about the origin of a significant portion of our modern scientific paradigm. The characters are intriguing, full, and eloquently detailed throughout. Wonderful narration as well!

Masterful and illuminating

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Far from Stephensons's best work.

The narration was fine, could be better. A lot of the characters sounded very similar to each other. I found myself constantly lost and forgetting where in the narrative I was.

Maybe all this religious and philosophical pontificating just isn't for me.

Boring and confusing

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I struggled hard to finish this one. It seemingly had no point or story. There were a few moments that were mildly amusing but overall I could not discern any plot or... anything.

I don't get it

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