Okay, I have started, and I realize now, I fucked up. I thought this was going to be easy. Is this the book that has Alan Turing? It is, isn’t it. Fuck. This book might be too smart for me. I should have found an adult literature sci fi list. Pray for me.
Do you know that I always spell gray, ‘grey’ at work like I’m British. It does comes up since it is a common color but no one has said anything yet. I also don’t say colour so I’m obviously inconsistent and yet…not a peep.
I had chatGPT write us a rap that summarizes the beginning to help us. Our Cliff Notes. But we’re in 2023.
(Verse 1) Step into the world of “Cryptonomicon,” the vibe’s intense, Where history and secrets merge, it’s so immense, In World War II, Lawrence Waterhouse is the man, Cracking enemy codes, part of a secret plan.
Working with Alan Turing, they’re a legendary duo, Mathematical minds, breaking codes like whoa, It’s a top-secret mission, no room for defeat, Trying to change the game, so the Allies can compete.
(Chorus) “Cryptonomicon,” a tale of cryptic thrill, History, codes, and secrets, man, it’s quite a skill, With Lawrence and Randy, it’s a wild ride, Connecting past and present, they’re on the rise.
(Verse 2) Fast forward to today, we meet Randy Waterhouse, A tech startup dude, navigating like a mouse, In the Philippines, he’s making waves, you see, But little does he know what’s in store, so key.
A hidden treasure he discovers, oh so rare, With ties to grandpa’s past, it’s like a dare, A quest that spans generations, taking flight, Secrets unraveling, the future shining bright.
(Chorus) “Cryptonomicon,” a tale of cryptic thrill, History, codes, and secrets, man, it’s quite a skill, With Lawrence and Randy, it’s a wild ride, Connecting past and present, they’re on the rise.
(Bridge) Cracking codes, breaking chains, it’s a cipher’s delight, In the world of cryptology, they’re soaring like a kite, Numbers, mysteries, blending in a masterful mix, “Cryptonomicon,” a journey you can’t afford to miss.
(Verse 3) So ride the wave, my friend, into this epic tale, Where cryptic adventures and legends set sail, Neal Stephenson’s masterpiece, it’s a rap like no other, “Cryptonomicon,” a journey to discover.
(Chorus) “Cryptonomicon,” a tale of cryptic thrill, History, codes, and secrets, man, it’s quite a skill, With Lawrence and Randy, it’s a wild ride, Connecting past and present, they’re on the rise.
(Outro) In the world of “Cryptonomicon,” you’re in for a surprise, With rap-worthy beginnings, it’ll open up your eyes, So take the leap, dive into this epic ride, “Cryptonomicon,” the adventure, spread worldwide.
And if you don’t know, now you know.
I have started reading and listening to Cryptonomicon now, so I have a bit more to say. It is so far, very enjoyable. As a memo to self, I want to see if I can calculate the current value of “Fuck you money.”
It starts introducing known characters of Bletchley Park, so anyone that has ever had a fascination with the Enigma code and the code breakers of WWII…will obviously enjoy this book very much. I can tell, this is likely required reading for fans of crypto-currency. Honestly, the chatGPT rap is a much better report than I could ever do, so we will leave part one at that.
I recently realize the author, Neal Stephenson, looks like he could beat me in a fight, so I’m taking this most more seriously.
If Neal Stephenson sees this, I’ll provide him free tech support…its truly my only marketable skill.