The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O.
By Neal Stephenson & Nicole Galland
- Release Date: 2017-06-13
- Genre: Science Fiction
Description
A New York Times Bestseller
From bestselling author Neal Stephenson and critically acclaimed historical and contemporary commercial novelist Nicole Galland comes a captivating and complex near-future thriller combining history, science, magic, mystery, intrigue, and adventure that questions the very foundations of the modern world.
When Melisande Stokes, an expert in linguistics and languages, accidently meets military intelligence operator Tristan Lyons in a hallway at Harvard University, it is the beginning of a chain of events that will alter their lives and human history itself. The young man from a shadowy government entity approaches Mel, a low-level faculty member, with an incredible offer. The only condition: she must sign a nondisclosure agreement in return for the rather large sum of money.
Tristan needs Mel to translate some very old documents, which, if authentic, are earth-shattering. They prove that magic actually existed and was practiced for centuries. But the arrival of the scientific revolution and the Age of Enlightenment weakened its power and endangered its practitioners. Magic stopped working altogether in 1851, at the time of the Great Exhibition at London’s Crystal Palace—the world’s fair celebrating the rise of industrial technology and commerce. Something about the modern world "jams" the "frequencies" used by magic, and it’s up to Tristan to find out why.
And so the Department of Diachronic Operations—D.O.D.O. —gets cracking on its real mission: to develop a device that can bring magic back, and send Diachronic Operatives back in time to keep it alive . . . and meddle with a little history at the same time. But while Tristan and his expanding operation master the science and build the technology, they overlook the mercurial—and treacherous—nature of the human heart.
Written with the genius, complexity, and innovation that characterize all of Neal Stephenson’s work and steeped with the down-to-earth warmth and humor of Nicole Galland’s storytelling style, this exciting and vividly realized work of science fiction will make you believe in the impossible, and take you to places—and times—beyond imagining.
Reviews
Read it twice…loved it!
5By RHMTWOHistory comes alive in the background of all Mr. Stephenson’s work.Light, yet thoughtful.
5By Big__Mike__A fun read. I enjoyed it tremendously. I’m not sure I can say more without spoiling the fun.Too Much Gimmickry
3By gdub2019I really liked the premise of this story, but the second half is hard to read. Page after page of faux bureaucratic bickering is not interesting and stops the story in its tracks. Could have been trimmed by two hundred pages and would have been fantastic.The Rise and Fall of DODO
5By moffittmusicThe synergy between the co-authors evolved nicely as the the story became massive. I like a story that lasts, unlike the shorter reads that feel like episodes in a netflix series.Uh ending?
3By KsdjebejdxjdbenI hate when a book has no real ending. I thought the book still had like 80 pages to go, and it just ended. The rest of it was an excerpt from something else. Was a good read, but a real letdown at the end. Almost reminds me of a movie ending that makes no sense. “And I will continue the fight……”Loved it!
5By Lbl0303Twists and turns through time, not sure who to trust, life and death struggles mixed with hilarious moments that made me laugh at loud. Excellent read!Great Story ... Dauntingly Long!
5By CitizenstatReally enjoyed "DODO." Wasn't sure my attention span and comprehension were up to a novel of this length. Fortunately, no problem! Any more in the works, guys?Loved it...
5By ShakaZulu67A little irrelevant but hey, this is Neal...17.99?
1By boog1937453528I was pretty excited for a new Stephenson book, but jeez what a rip off. That's like first edition hard cover price for an ebook. I'll pass until the publisher loses interest in charging this asinine price.Fun read
5By macchiabugEnjoyed thoroughly.