It took a while for this book to feel like a Stephenson book; it felt like a very well researched work of science fiction for quite some time and lacked the sheer...oddness that I associate with Stephenson. The the third act happened and it felt a bit more like his other works, but even then it was far more restrained than I expected. Of course the total lack of ending was extremely Stephensonian. But enjoyable nonetheless and I remain in awe of all science fiction who imagine complex possibilities embedded in compelling narratives.