The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. by Neal Stephenson and Nicole Galland
Reviewed by: Dave Gibbons, Library Volunteer
Genre: Science Fiction
Suggested Age: Adults
What is the book about?: Arthur C. Clarke once wrote, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” In the case of the shadowy government agency, D.O.D.O, that statement is backwards. The problem is that magic as we know it has not been in the world since the mid-seventeenth century, due to the advancement of photography. Academic linguist Melisande Stokes and government agent Tristan Lyons have been tasked with bringing magic back specifically for the development of time travel. The pair soon learn this task is far more complex than they had originally thought. The intricate chain of events the team goes through in order to complete their mission causes their timeline to alter itself in many unpredictable ways, from changes in the names of government facilities to the elimination of certain brand names from existence even the ransacking of a Walmart by Vikings. Can magic be brought back? Can it survive bureaucracy? And why are banks so interested in it?
My Review: This book is definitely not light reading, but I don’t for a moment mean that as a negative. This book is written as interview transcripts, office memos and ancient manuscripts (one of the most fascinating chapters is just an internet search history) from a super secret government agency. So, the plot isn’t linear and the time travel makes thinks difficult, so the reader has to do some “heavy lifting “ for all of the twists of the plot to reveal themselves, but it is well worth the effort.
I am admittedly a big fan of Neal Stephenson’s work. I like the way he starts with simple concepts and the builds them into something huge to create a whole new world. My only complaint about his previous work is that big concepts can cause his writing to be a bit dry. In this case, historical fiction author Nicole Galland has taken the reigns to keep D.O.D.O. fun and engaging. The combination of the two styles is perfect.
Some may find the length of this book (at 768 pgs.) a bit intimidating but in all sincerity, I wish it were even longer as several of the themes that are introduced absolutely fascinate the imagination, and inspire thought even after the book is put down.
Three Words That Describe This Book: science, complex, original
Give This a Try if You Like… Cryptonomicon by Neil Stephenson, A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury, La Jetee by Chris Marker
Rating: 5/5
About FDL Reads
Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library. Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available. If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently. We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!