Neal Stephenson's next book in The Baroque Cycle trilogy comes out next month. You can order it now.

Booklist had this to say:

This guy really likes to write long books.

With real-life supporting characters such as Isaac Newton and Wilhelm Leibnitz, the series blends fact and fiction so cleverly that it is virtually impossible to separate one from the other. Stephenson is a graceful writer, never getting bogged down in detail, keeping the story moving, dazzling us with his technique.

The concluding volume of the trilogy is scheduled to appear in October 2004, and it's fair to say anyone who reads this one will spend the intervening months waiting with breathless anticipation.

"George, get set for a mind blowing afternoon."

"Attention class A drivers ... You have 15 minutes to qualify."