Neal Stephenson is a sci-fi writer "of exuberant prose who revels in embracing big ideas," [1]according to the New York Times . "With [2] Polostan he enters the realm of the spy novel..."

Or, [3]as the Washington Post puts it , Stephenson "drops readers into a bloody, inspiring, conflict-ridden and pivotal period of the early 20th century."

> With its flair for characterization, precision of language, witty apercus and fecundity of events, the novel delivers what we've come to cherish from the author of such fantastical classics as "The Diamond Age," "Snow Crash" and "Cryptonomicon."

>

> But the book is also utterly unlike the majority of Stephenson's work. For one thing, it's short — a far cry from the maximalist "systems novels" that cram in entire worlds with complex interacting power structures, both explicit and hidden. "Polostan" is also devoid of fantastical elements and farcical "hysterical realism," which comes as a bit of a shock given that this is the writer who invented Mafia pizza-delivery guys and cybernetic children's primers. The structure of the book is, likewise, unusually straightforward: a mainly linear narrative dispersed along two timelines...

>

> These observations aren't quibbles so much as alerts to the reader that this is new territory for Stephenson — and good for him! Though, because Polostan is the first novel in a planned historical series titled Bomb Light, which aims to capture the excitement and intrigue of the nuclear arms race, we cannot rule out any Stephenson freakiness down the line... Assuming the subsequent books are as good as this one, Stephenson might end up with a series that rivals Michael Moorcock's Pyat Quartet and Edward Whittemore's Jerusalem Quartet as a vivid and canny dissection of a century unlike any other.

"Much of the next volume is already written," Stephenson [4]says on Substack , calling it "a project that has been in the works for over ten years". (He also notes that among his novels, "even the stuff that's branded as science fiction tends to contain a lot of history.")

Meanwhile in August, Stephenson's blockchain-tech startup Lamina1 announced a collaboration with special effects company Weta Workshop (from "The Lord of the Rings" film franchise) on a "participatory worldbuilding" experience. [5] Variety reports :

> The experience is expected to offer "a new blueprint for IP expansion through immersive experiences that incorporate fan action and input."

>

> Per Lamina1's description for the project, "Stephenson and the Weta team will begin engaging a global community of creators and fans on the Lamina1 platform this fall, inviting them to unravel the lore behind a mysterious set of 'Artefacts' that will build upon the themes and lore from Stephenson's critically-acclaimed catalog of work.

>

> Next, the superfan will take on the new role of creator, utilizing their discoveries to contribute directly to the expansion of the universe."

>

> "Artefact" will serve as the flagship project in the Lamina1-Weta partnership and first major multimedia property launching on Lamina1's blockchain infrastructure and tooling.

Neal Stephenson [6]answered questions from Slashdot's readers in 2004 . Now to promote his new novel Polostan , Stephenson will be making [7]several personal appearances this week :

[8]At the Wisconsin Book Festival in Madison (Sunday at noon)

Chicago's Book Stall (Monday at 7 p.m.)

A Cary, North Carolina Barnes & Noble (Tuesday at 6 p.m.)

New York City's Strand (Wednesday at 7 p.m.)

At the Midtown Scholar Bookstore in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (Thursday at 7 p.m.)

Ames, Iowa at Dog Eared Books (Sunday at 6 p.m.)



[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/15/books/review/neal-stephenson-polostan.html

[2] https://www.harpercollins.com/products/polostan-neal-stephenson?variant=41314834120738

[3] https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/with-polostan-neal-stephenson-tries-something-new/ar-AA1sjrv9

[4] https://nealstephenson.substack.com/p/polostan

[5] https://variety.com/2024/artisans/news/neal-stephenson-weta-workshop-lamina1-artefact-worldbuilding-1236114072/

[6] https://slashdot.org/story/04/10/20/1518217/neal-stephenson-responds-with-wit-and-humor

[7] https://www.nealstephenson.com/tour.html

[8] https://www.wisconsinbookfestival.org/events/polostan