Zodiac

By: Neal Stephenson

Narrated by: Ax Norman

Length: 10 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

Sangamon Taylor's a New Age Sam Spade who sports a wet suit instead of a trench coat and prefers Jolt from the can to Scotch on the rocks. He knows about chemical sludge the way he knows about evil - all too intimately. And the toxic trail he follows leads to some high and foul places.

Before long, Taylor's house is bombed, his every move followed, he's adopted by reservation Indians, moves onto the FBI's most wanted list, makes up with his girlfriend, and plays a starring role in the near-assassination of a presidential candidate. Closing the case with the aid of his burnout roommate, his tofu-eating comrades, three major networks, and a range of unconventional weaponry, Sangamon Taylor pulls off the most startling caper in Boston Harbor since the Tea Party.

As he navigates this ecological thriller with hardboiled wit and the biggest outboard motor he can get his hands on, Taylor reveals himself as one of the last of the white-hatted good guys in a very toxic world

©1988 Neal Stephenson (P)2009 Macmillan Audio

Hmmmmm

Not a typical Neal Stephenson techno thriller. Interesting insight into the world of enviro-terrorism but, short on character and plot development.

This was fun.

I just have to say I enjoyed this one. I've enjoyed all of the Neal Stephenson books I've consumed so far. Unlike other audiobooks where you don't see the end coming this one had a great ending for the audio format. I saw it coming, it was wrapped up well and I was OK with it being over. I didn't want it to be over but I was ok with it. I only gave 4 stars for performance because at times it was hard to tell who was taking as the Character "voices" weren't differentiated enough for my ears. However that is not a criticism, it was well done.

Entertaining

Not as. complex as later works, but very intertaining. Stephens is a creative, with a dry wit.

A story mainlined a bit too quick

Characters and names come and go in a torrent and while you would think all of the chemistry would be the hardest to track it’s actually the cursory actors and all of their motivations.
The core mystery element is strong and it’s great to have a proactive, competent and gung ho environmentalist who seems to come out ahead. If you make believe that we actually gave anti corporate groups 1/100th of the budget of industry lobbyists it’s all pretty practical (not a snark). Enjoyable and quick!

Real Science in an Action Adventure Mystery

Proof Stephenson doesn't need take us to other planets, times or dimensions to spin a uniquely compelling, yet tightly coherent yarn in a world largely alien to most of us. Expertly read with perfect timing and inflection to highlight ironies without pulling the listener out of the story; enunciated clearly, enabling playback in noisy environments or at faster playback speeds.

seemed like a quick read

I like NS quite a bit, having discovered him more recently (Seveneves being my first by him). This seemed quicker....if I could put it that way, then Reamde and Anathem...but I am not just talking about length. it seemed like the book was accelerated in some way. which seems off a bit for being an NS book. overall I thought it was entertaining about a topic I was only marginally aware of. I would recommend it to a fan that missed it the first go around.

Compelling story

Pretty good listen. Wraps up nearly. Great performance. The story holds up well in modern times.

Good voice acting

Writing was ok, fair bit of word salad and poorly justified positions but overall a decent enough story.

Yes! Worth it!

Stephenson surely knows how to spin a good yarn! And this one is no exception. I swallowed it whole, and it took me totally by surprise.

Very Satisfying indeed. Recommend!

Dated but still current

Any additional comments?

As pollution of the earth is still an actual issue, this book is current. Fast paced main character is certainly entertaining. Given the tactics and the way people communicate, one can date the book to be less recent (e.g. No cell phones etc) . This does not spoil the fun. Wel read and I do urge you to listen to it.