Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson is a thriller book that combines two timelines: World War II and the late 1990s. The book explores cryptography, war and the rise of digital currencies. During WWII, mathematicians and codebreakers like Lawrence Waterhouse and soldier Bobby Shaftoe worked to break Axis codes while maintaining the secrecy of their successes. In the 1990s, Waterhouse’s grandson, Randy, helps develop a secure digital economy using cryptographic techniques, uncovering a hidden wartime gold stash along the way. The novel blends historical fiction with very cyberpunk-ish themes.
Cryptonomicon is a mix of WWII codebreaking, 90s tech knowledge and cryptography, making it feel like an intense and unique time-related story. The most compelling part is how it turns science fiction concepts into powerful, influential forces, but Stephenson’s obsession with detail in this book slows the pace a little and makes it a little boring. Still, it did have enjoyable themes of power, secrecy and digital security. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves tech, history and the combination of both with science fiction holding it together. I give this book a four out of five.