The Confusion Audiobook By Neal Stephenson cover art

The Confusion

Books Four & Five of The Baroque Cycle

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The Confusion

By: Neal Stephenson
Narrated by: Simon Prebble, Katherine Kellgren, Kevin Pariseau, Neal Stephenson (introduction)
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In the year 1689, a cabal of Barbary galley slaves, including one “Half-Cocked Jack” Shaftoe, devises a daring plan to win freedom and fortune. A great adventure ensues that will place the intrepid band at odds with the mighty and the mad, with alchemists, Jesuits, great navies, pirate queens, and vengeful despots across vast oceans and around the globe.

Back in Europe, the exquisite and resourceful Eliza, Countess de la Zeur, master of markets, pawn and confidante of enemy kings, onetime Turkish harem virgin, is stripped of her immense personal fortune by France’s most dashing privateer. Penniless and at risk from those who desire either her or her head (or both), she is caught up in a web of international intrigue, even as she desperately seeks the return of her most precious possession -- her child.Meanwhile, Newton and Leibniz continue to propound their grand theories as their infamous rivalry intensifies. And Daniel Waterhouse seeks passage to the Massachusetts colony in hopes of escaping the madness into which his world has descended.

The Baroque Cycle, Neal Stephenson’s award-winning series, spans the late 17th and early 18th centuries, combining history, adventure, science, invention, piracy, and alchemy into one sweeping tale. It is a gloriously rich, entertaining, and endlessly inventive historical epic populated by the likes of Isaac Newton, William of Orange, Benjamin Franklin, and King Louis XIV, along with some of the most inventive literary characters in modern fiction.

Audible’s complete and unabridged presentation of The Baroque Cycle was produced in cooperation with Neal Stephenson. Each volume includes an exclusive introduction read by the author.

Listen to more titles in the Baroque Cycle.©2004 Neal Stephenson (P)2010 Audible, Inc. Action & Adventure Historical Fiction Pirate Adventure Fiction Sea Adventures Genre Fiction Science Fiction Royalty Middle Ages Africa
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Critic reviews

“[Stephenson] might just have created the definitive historical-sci-fi-epic-pirate-comedy-punk-love story.” ( Entertainment Weekly)
“Monumental… combines adventure with Big Ideas and lots of intrigue.” ( Locus)
“Vast, splendid, and absorbing.” ( Publishers Weekly)
Intricate Plotting • Epic Adventure • Exceptional Voice Acting • Vivid Characterizations • Historical Richness

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“When a thing such as wax, or gold, or silver, turns liquid from heat, we say that it has fused,” Eliza said to her son, “and when such liquids run together and mix, we say they are con-fused.”
- Neal Stephenson, The Confusion

Volume Two of Stephenson's massive Baroque Cycle consists of Books 4 and 5 (Part One, if it isn't obvious, consisted of Books 1-3). Since both books 4. Bonanza and5. Juncto are concurrent, Stephenson threads/interleaves the two books together (hence Con-Fusion).

This volume continues with the major characters: Daniel Waterhouse, Eliza, Bob Shaftoe, & Jack Shaftoe, along with a host of other fantastic characters both real (Newton, Leibniz, Louis IV, Pepys) and imagined. Like the previous volume, 'The Confusion' takes place during the end of the Nine Years' War (and the period shortly after) and explores the beginning of the Enlightenment, complete with politics, war, modern economics, science and the scientific method, currency, information technology, trade, religion and cryptography. Usually, when Newton or Leibniz are discoursing, Stephenson is waxing philosophic about atoms, thinking machines, or currency.

Fundamentally, these books are historical fiction for geeks. He pushes some people and events to the point of soft-SF/mysticism (I'm thinking of Enoch Root, a man who appears and disappears and acts as a catalyst for change throughout time). It wasn't perfect and there were some points where I was a turned-off by the jocular humor, but these were minor issues. It isn't close to high art, but it is a fascinating read.

Two Books Con-Fused

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The first three books developed the characters and set the scenes. Each was fantastic. I wasn't quite sure what to expect in The Confusion, books 4&5, but they exceeded even my highest expectations by leaps and bounds. Tons of action, adventures on land and the high seas, political tensions, scientific intrigue (hysterical dialogues btw 'physicists'), and truly superb writing. Oh, and the narration is equally as superb. Five stars front to back. Highly recommended by this guy.

Books 4&5 - by far The Best

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I am assuming if you made it this far, that you’re already familiar with this series, and Mr. Stephenson’s work as an author in general. My five-star rating here is relative to those assumptions — if you’re jumping into this book without context because it was on sale or something, PLEASE start with one of his more accessible books or at least start with Quicksilver — you’ll be glad you did.

This is two “books” that have been combined into a single narrative, and I’m very glad Neal decided to confuse the two, as it were. The Shaftoe legacy continues to shape world events in truly jaw-dropping fashion, and I was surprised and relieved to be given an ending that actually felt like one 😅

The best “Cycle” installment so far!

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loved it, love the whole series. I keep thinking I will pause and listen to something else for awhile, but I can't 😁

Page Turner!!!

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This series is a sprawling adventure of truly epic proportions. Believe me, you will fall in love if you give it even half a chance. Trust me. It has inspired me in many ways and the author is an amazing writer. Check out The Diamond Age for a story by him set in the future which is just as awesome.

Love this series.

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