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Cryptonomicon

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Cryptonomicon is a sprawling novel by Neal Stephenson that is more a combination of historical fiction and contemporary techno-thriller than the science fiction of Stephenson's earlier works. It follows the parallel saga of cryptographers from World War II (see U-413, U-553, U-691, Enigma machine, Alan Turing, Bletchley Park) and their descendants attempting to use modern cryptography to build a data haven in a fictitious East Asian island state and the political machinations that follow both efforts.

The Cryptonomicon book described as a cryptographer's bible and reffered in the Cryptonomicon novel itself is a fictional book invented by Neal Stephenson for the plot purposes of his book and does not exist in reality.

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Cryptonomicon is notably heavy going for non-technical readers in parts. Several pages are spent explaining in detail some of the concepts behind cryptography, for example. Stephenson includes a precise description of the Solitaire cipher (called Pontifex in the book), a cryptographic algorithm developed by Bruce Schneier for use with a deck of playing cards, as part of the plot. Despite the technical detail, the book drew praise from both Stephenson's science fiction fan base and literary critics and buyers.

The title is drawn indirectly from the Necronomicon, a fictional work detailed within the works of the writer H. P. Lovecraft, even though when Stephenson came up with his title, he was not aware of the word's origin. He was directly inspired by the fictional book's appearance in the Evil Dead series of comedic horror films.

Editions

  • ISBN 0380973464: Hardcover (1999)
  • ISBN 0380788624: Paperback (2000)
  • ISBN 0060512806: Mass Market Paperback (2002)
  • ISBN 157453470X: Audio Cassette (abridged) (2001)
  • ISBN B00009M9LW: e-book (Adobe Reader)
  • ISBN B00009M9LX: e-book (Microsoft Reader)
  • Audio download from iTunes and Audible.com
  • translations into other languages: Polish

External links

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