This is a tad dated but very informative and fun at the same time. Cool to look at Boston Harbor now compared to when this book was written. Great job by MA and Boston proper.

Zodiac is a Eco thriller crime book about, corporations dumping toxic waste into the Boston harbor, and Sangamon Taylor also known as ST, and he works as a "professional asshole", as he explains in the book. The story is about ST as he goes around in his zodiac (a boat) and messes up corporations with bad press and locking them out of their own factorys.
I loved this book because it followed a great character who always finds a way to win against all odds.

I found this one to be engaging from beginning to end. The premise is solid, and while it comes across as a bit naive 25 years later, the story here is enjoyable enough to settle into. The main character and most of his friends/colleagues are aggressively likable and mostly well-written. You can see the pedal to the metal writing style Stephenson is known for starting to take shape here and it serves the pacing well. I had a friend say that this would have made a great 80s movie, and I wholeheartedly agree - this is exactly the kind of book we have here.

3 Stars for Zodiac (audiobook) by Neal Stephenson read by Ax Norman.

This is my first book by this author and it’s really not what I was expecting. The snarky environmentalist just got kind of old for me.

Very enjoyable adventures of an environmental crusader who is out to bust the companies pouring toxic chemicals into environment. He becomes enmeshed in a complicated plot to clean up PCB pollution using genetically engineered plasmids, which goes awry when Boston Harbor becomes contaminated with a second genetically engineered bug that actually produces toxic waste. Features high-speed boat chases, heavy metal Satanists on angel dust, several murders, several trips to the ER, lots of drugs, assorted media pranks, an arrow attack, underwater knife fights, a few explosions.

Thriller following environmental activist and professional whistle blower who gets in way over his head. On paper it doesn't sound too exciting and honestly it isn't. There is tension and action but it's not some super exciting spy thriller. It's more toned down to fit tone of the book. Despite that I enjoyed this one a lot. Writing is smooth, characters are likable, villains aren't stupid and cops are competent (for the most part) and science is real with some lot of organic chemistry. Also despite following environmentalist group book doesn't feel preachy like a lot of books with similar themes tend to be.

Loved this story, I got the full Stephenson on this one.

It wasn't about the Zodiac killer, but it was a pretty decent story about a ecoterrorist / investigator, so that was cool.

Zodiac is superb. Hard hitting, straight up, and motivating throughout. Shorter than most of Stephenson’s other books, I devoured Zodiac and enjoyed every minute of it.

Nothing has made me want to be a part of environmental activism more

I hate this book. It's mostly the characters, who are obnoxious and corny. Despite the author's attempt to give life to the story through its first person perspective, the protagonist is annoying and the rest of the cast is dull. I knew within five pages that I'd be annoyed throughout the entire story, and I was right. I just didn't think I'd be so bored. And confused. Did I mentioned confused? The plot was simple enough to follow, but something about the writing itself just kept me from getting absorbed into the story, making me lose my place on several occasions. I've been told by quite a few people to try out Snow Crash, but after this book, I think I'll pass. I should have known not to get excited for an "Eco-thriller".

Feckin wicked, guy. If you have any relationship with Boston and you dig Carl Hiassan’s style of eco-pulp, this is for you. Docked a star for the dumbass 1988 racist stereotypes.

Stephenson's worst book. Still pretty good.