The Zenith Angle

Being a programmer and a geek, I really enjoyed reading this book. Yes, some of it is implausable, and there a few rants in there, but I didn't like the book less because of that. I liked the characters - Van, his wife Dottie, Michael Hickock, etc. There's also some dry humor in there. It's not a super action-packed story for the most part, but I liked reading about what Van and Dottie worked on. I also liked the ending. I have read some of Bruce's other books (and enjoyed them too), and this book is a little different than them. And not everyone will like every book that an author writes. I for one am glad Bruce wrote "The Zenith Angle", and am searching for more books like it.

In his last few books, Sterling is creating what amounts to a sub-genre all his own. He starts off with a very plausible near-future setting, and by slow increments, the story becomes increasingly outlandish until the reader is off on a wild romp of fancy. What many people who have reviewed this book seem to entirely miss is that they've read a smooth and clever satire. It is subtle; you won't find an outright joke in the entire book. But it's just a delight, and frequently laugh-out-loud funny, with insight and social commentary that never hits you over the head or bogs the story down. If you liked Zeitgeist and Distraction, you won't be disappointed by Zenith Angle.

Anybody who reads a lot of science fiction should have recognized that "The Zenith Angle" is a very well put together book. Whatever Sterling is doing is done on purpose, especially the glue gun scenes which are a dead giveaway that Sterling is up to something. This is fiction, remember? The techno-babble was well done and parallels the UNiX world.

Please Note: I initially posted a review of the downloaded version of this book and then later realized that possibly few who might benefit from my review would see it. For this reason, I have reposted my review here.This download is a great work of art. I teach computer science at a local university here in New York and I required that all my students read Mr. Sterling's book. I especially encouraged them to download the book since that way they can all read it on their laptops or at home. My sincerest gratitude to Mr. Bruce Sterling for writing such a pivitol historical book, (or should I say download). I found this most enjoyable to read at the 1024 x 768 setting. Indeed, the sex scenes in this book are the most riveting I have seen in some time and it must have taken a great deal of daring for the author to bring himself to writing them. The sex in the whirlpool scene is, well, quite daring. I wish that I had voting privileges for the Hugo Award or the Nebula Award, forgive me I don't remember which is for novel and which is for short story (if there is a difference), for I surely would vote for this work. Although, I must point out that the glue gun scenes were not at all believable. I know from my own hobby shop experiences that glue guns can run on battery and that if one pulls the trigger on a glue gun the glue will come out in a hot stringy fashion. It is very dangerous to be on the receiving end of a glue gun point because the hot glue can get stuck to any and everything, not just skin. The author makes working the glue gun look like cake. This is not the case in real life.I will continue to require "The Zenith Angle" for all my students. Thank you Mr. Sterling.

I've long been a fan of Bruce Sterling; I've read `The Difference Engine,' `The Hacker Crackdown,' `Distraction,' and `Globalhead.' I'm not sure the average reader `gets him.' I put each of Sterling's works down looking with anticipation towards his next great story. I believe that this latest work will make it to the best-seller lists.Cyberspookerati, conspiracies, men in black, cover-ups, bureaucratic hand washing, political agendas and incompetence, are all mixed up in this intricate and fast moving plot. I give him four stars for character development and five for the plot and accurate facts on our industry and governments workings. I worked for the DoD for 20 years and had a TS Clearance, so I can attest that things really do work like Sterling portrays them in `The Zenith Angle.' Frustrating, mind boggling, and idiotic all, but nevertheless true. I was constantly reminded of two other best-selling books I've read in the last 3 years, `Alien Rapture' and `Sleeping With the Devil.'Think this novel reads like a TRUE CONSPIRACY, then check out these books on REAL CONSPIRACIES: `Alien Rapture,' `Holy Blood, Holy Grail,' The Christ Conspiracy,' `Alien Agenda,' `Unconventional Flying Objects - by Dr. Hill,' The Puzzle Palace,' and `Sleeping With the Devil.' NASA tried to ban `Unconventional Flying Objects' in court. `Alien Agenda' is by Marrs, (best-selling author of `Crossfire') which is the definitive book on the JFK assassination and best reading of them all. "Alien Rapture' is written by a Black Programs Insider, and along with Hill's book (Unconventional Flying Objects) are the two most important books on the UFO cover-up. Check them out.