Last night I finished Cryptonomicon, by Neal Stephenson.  Wow!  I'm pretty sure it has moved up to second on my all time list, behind the amazing Godel, Escher, Bach, displacing William Gibson's Neuromancer which was my previous #2.  What a *great* book!

Funny, serious, entertaining, and thought-provoking, it is full of knowledge about cryptography, World War II, the Philippines, 1990s business, and features amazing characters, fully drawn.  I am so sad that it's over, but so excited to read the as-yes-to-be-released two next members of this "series".

I think my main reaction is awe.  To take so many subjects and subplots and weave them together so seamlessly is awesome.  And the thought of lighting the Qwghlmian "Galvanick Lucifer" brings a huge smile to my face :)