Not as good as his other works.

2nd book in The Baroque Cycle. Alternate History features a vagabond who wonders through Europe, France and Holland. Gives a glimpse of the countries during this early time period with a lot of humor. I listened to the audio read by Simon Prebble. The historical setting is the late 17th/early 18th centuries for the Baroque cycle and the stories combine history, adventure, science, and alchemy.

Great twist to the storyline & perspective giving of the era.

Part two of the Baroque Cycle is another ripping yarn from Stephenson. This time we take up the seedier lot of characters and focus on the world of trade and politics. I couldn't help feeling the influence of Don Quixote as Jack's pox-addled brain got him into a series of scrapes toward the end! I'll see if I can finish the final section of the book over the holiday.

I would really give this book 3 1/2 stars if I could. I liked the characters well enough but their intertwined involvement in notable historic events throughout the period did start to seem a little preposterous towards the end.

This book had considerably more action than it's predecessor and is a very fast read. Although the ending is a bit of a letdown, it seems that the characters may make a return in later books as their destinies don't yet seem to be fulfilled.

More great writing from Neal Stephenson, unfortunately it gets to be too much more. Stephenson apparently felt the need to make his books all stand alone along with being part of the series, and in the process he turned the Baroque Cycle into the Baroque Re-Cycle. This volume would lose half its physical volume if the regurgitated text originally published in Quicksilver was simply omitted from King of the Vagabonds.

High proof picaresque with characteristic Neal Stephenson flourishes

I only read this book as I had accidentally bought the third in the series and so picked up one and two just to not waste the third. Sunk cost and all that.

I hated the first one, Quicksilver, total garbage. I really quite enjoyed this one. I liked the characters and although the plot felt a bit like just following them around as they wondered aimlessly around it was such a stark contrast to the other it made me like it more.

A vagabond and a harem girl mooch around western Europe not having sex.

this book was way more exciting and fun then the first book. I liked both Eliza and Jack. Jack was the best and most enjoyable, followed by them together and then Eliza on her own. I found myself actually upset about their falling out and the ending, it really left a sour note in my mouth so much so I am not decided on continuing. Despite that it was still a good book and more fun than the Waterhouse journey, which was interesting but slow paced and dull at times

Stephenson is excellent at building worlds, and this book is no exception. the world of the Baroque Cycle is rich, and very interesting.

Neal Stephenson es un genio para crear y ubicar personajes entrañables tropesandose aquí y allá con eventos y personajes reales en momentos cruciales de la historia.
Ésta segunda parte de Azogue (Quicksilver), presenta dos personajes que te harán morir de risa, pero también llorar conforme los acompañas desde el día que se conocen, hasta cuándo no se ven más.

Very different from the first book in the series. I enjoyed the style of writing, but I also found it difficult to get in to the story.