Reamde is a technothriller … published in 2011.

The story, set in the present day, centers on the plight of a hostage and the ensuing efforts of family and new acquaintances, many of them associated with a fictional MMORPG, to rescue her as her various captors drag her about the globe. Topics covered range from online activities including gold farming and social networking to the criminal methods of the Russian mafia and Islamic terrorists.

Stephenson is the darling author of geeks. His 1992 novel Snow Crash often cited as one of the best books of all time.

Snow Crash was ground breaking. But still over-rated in my opinion.

Stephenson is too smart. His plots too complex. Too many characters. Too many dead-end side plots.

The title of this book – Reamde – is a good example. Almost brilliant. But ultimately too cute. Stephenson tries too hard to be quirky, original and unpredictable.

I have similar complaints with Seveneves (2015).

Wanting to be cool, I wish I loved Neal Stephenson. But I don’t.