Neal Stephenson's writing catapults the reader into his deeply imaginative, meticulously researched and captivating worlds. Crafting gripping stories across genres from cyber-punk, historical fiction, speculative and science fiction to thoughtful non-fiction writing on technology and culture, Stephenson's sharp eye and voracious intellect deliver full immersion into his narratives. 

A long-time friend of The Long Now Foundation, Stephenson contributed early ideas for the 10,000 Year Clock which grew into elements of his 02008 novel, Anathem. His newest book, Polostan, will be released on October 15, 02024.

• Neal Stephenson's Homepage
• Neal Stephenson's Wikipedia page

Neal Stephenson, visionary speculative fiction author and long-time friend of Long Now, joined us for a conversation with journalist Charles C. Mann on the research behind his new novel Polostan, the dawn of the Atomic Age, and the craft of historical storytelling.

Polostan is the first installment in a monumental new series called Bomb Light - an expansive historical epic of intrigue and international espionage, presaging the dawn of the Atomic Age. Set against the turbulent decades of the early twentieth century, Polostan is an inventive, richly detailed, and deeply entertaining historical epic from Stephenson, whose prior books include Cryptonomicon and The Baroque Cycle

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