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# Neal Stephenson predicted the internet-what’s he predicting this time?
- URL: https://www.killscreen.com/neal-stephenson-predicted-the-internet-whats-he/
- Published: 2011-09-29T18:26:00.000Z
- Updated: 2015-11-17T15:51:25.000Z
- Description: The New York Times has a new review of Neal Stephenson’s new novel Reamde as written by Tom Bissell, a writer who knows his way around a word or two. It’s tempting to repost the entire thing, but here is the general thesis of the review: There are times when you wonder if Reamde is the smartest dum
- Author: Kill Screen Staff
- Tags: News, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2024-07-26 09:39

![](http://www.portmandia.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/DSCN0277.jpg)

*The New York Times* has a new review of Neal Stephenson’s new novel *Reamde* as written by Tom Bissell, a writer who knows his way around a word or two. It’s tempting to repost the [entire thing](http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/25/books/review/reamde-by-neal-stephenson-book-review.html?%5Fr=1&ref=killscreen.com), but here is the general thesis of the review:

> There are times when you wonder if *Reamde* is the smartest dumb novel you have ever read or the dumbest smart novel.

Sounds like *Reamde* is essentially [Ghostface Killah](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJPuOk2jYhg&ref=killscreen.com), but in novel form.

It’s nearly impossible to summarize the plot of such a massive tome, but Bissell gives it the old college try, going into massive virtual game worlds that have real-life consequences, the book’s impressively high-even for a thousand-page doorstop such as *Reamde*\-body count, and the idea of a “Welsh terrorist” (“A funny phrase, like ‘Mongolian pastry chef’ or ‘Spanish engineer.’”).

[The whole review](http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/25/books/review/reamde-by-neal-stephenson-book-review.html?%5Fr=1&ref=killscreen.com) is a massively entertaining piece of criticism, and it makes [the book](http://www.amazon.com/Reamde-Novel-Neal-Stephenson/dp/0061977969?ref=killscreen.com) seem like it’s not a half-bad read, either.

While you’re at it, you should go ahead and read Bissell’s [harrowing tale](http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2010/mar/21/tom-bissell-video-game-cocaine-addiction?ref=killscreen.com) of becoming addicted to *Grand Theft Auto IV*, as well as cocaine.

*\-Drew Millard*

\[[via](http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/25/books/review/reamde-by-neal-stephenson-book-review.html?%5Fr=1&ref=killscreen.com)\]