The latest from Neal Stephenson's The Baroque Cycle, Confusion is out.

I'm a big fan o' Neal's, seen him talk a couple o' times, but I've got to admit, I've only read a couple of chapters of Quicksilver. Not that it isn't compelling (I'm fond of a challenging read) but I just haven't had the time. Need a couple days on a beach I do, sipping local brew, reclining on a chair, looking up to the arcing horizon to de-strain my eyes...

My first inpressions of what I have read of "Quicksilver" are favorable. It reminds me, however, somewhat, of Pynchon's "Mason and Dixon". A most challenging, yet deeply rewarding experience. (especially if you have done any surveying, or cartography, astronomy, history, out of body experiences...) Like most Pynchon, you've got to it a chance for a good hundred or two pages before you chuck it into the fire. If you can get that far, you're hooked. Same goes for Neal, lately. BTW, he doesn't mind the comparisons. What's new with the elusive Mr. P. anyway?

Anyhow's, I'll be going out tonight to get Neal's latest (from an independent bookseller) and add it to the cascading pile of reading material. What is the angle of repose for books, I wonder? I do believe I've exceeded this critical angle, and an avalanche is nigh.