Recommended by
- Marc Andreessen: "The Baroque Cycle – A work of rigorously researched historical fiction with only the slightest overlay of science fiction, this book tells the story of the emergence of the modern world and its systems (democracy, the scientific method, financial markets, etc.) in a way that is wholly fresh. These novels make me think about what a Neal Stephenson of 2300 may write about our times and us." source ↗
Summary
The first volume of Neal Stephenson's epic historical fiction trilogy set in the 17th and 18th centuries, following the adventures of Daniel Waterhouse, a natural philosopher navigating the birth of modern science. The novel weaves together the lives of real historical figures including Isaac Newton, Gottfried Leibniz, and Sir Isaac Newton against the backdrop of the Scientific Revolution and the rise of global capitalism. Blending historical detail with speculative fiction, the book explores the intellectual ferment of the Age of Enlightenment.