The Baroque Cycle
Author: Neal Stephenson
Amazon info
I recently finished the final two books of the Baroque Cycle - the fictional story of Daniel Waterhouse and Jack Shaftoe and their interactions with Newton, Leibnitz, and various English/French aristrocracy. It is also the story of the transition of the world's economy to modern financial systems and the dawning of the Industrial Age. And, it also includes the debate of the invention of calculus and the beginnings of computing.
With all that going for it - how can this book be somewhat disappointing? The lack of an editor. This book has wonderful characters, interesting mysteries and plot twists. But it also has unending pages of description of London streets in the early 18th Century. Not to mention every single detail of the interior of the Tower Castle. Way way way way too much. Eliminate those 200 pages and it does become an excellent book.
Recommended for mathematicians, people who love London geography, and those with a lot of patience.