Interface | 
| Authors: Neal Stephenson, J. Frederick George
Publisher: Spectra
List Price: $15.00
Buy Used: $3.86
You Save: $11.14 (74%)
New (27) Used (34) Collectible (1) from $3.86
Rating:  18 reviews
Sales Rank: 80216
Media: Paperback
Pages: 640
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 8.2 x 5.2 x 1.4
ISBN: 0553383434
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9780553383430
ASIN: 0553383434
Publication Date: May 31, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
From his triumphant debut with Snow Crash to the stunning success of his latest novel, Quicksilver, Neal Stephenson has quickly become the voice of a generation. In this now-classic thriller, he and fellow author J. Frederick George tell a shocking tale with an all-too plausible premise.
There's no way William A. Cozzano can lose the upcoming presidential election. He's a likable midwestern governor with one insidious advantage—an advantage provided by a shadowy group of backers. A biochip implanted in his head hardwires him to a computerized polling system. The mood of the electorate is channeled directly into his brain. Forget issues. Forget policy. Cozzano is more than the perfect candidate. He's a special effect.
“Complex, entertaining, frequently funny."—Publishers Weekly
“Qualifies as the sleeper of the year, the rare kind of science-fiction thriller that evokes genuine laughter while simultaneously keeping the level of suspense cranked to the max."— San Diego Union-Tribune
“A Manchurian Candidate for the computer age.” —Seattle Weekly
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| Customer Reviews: Read 13 more reviews...
 Stephenson Lite July 1, 2005
Ryan Silberstein
33 out of 39 found this review helpful
This is not Stephenson at his best (Snow Crash, Cryptonomicon). The book has a slow buildup to the premise described on the back cover, and then rips through most of the good stuff in the last 150 pages. The story takes place in the 1996 election (I'm assuming, as the book was written in 1994). Besides the wiplash ending, there are some other major problems with the book.
The characters are very two dimensional, adhearing to besic archetypes. There is no real protaganist. None of the charcters are developed enough for the reader to even care about them.
The plot is implausible, not from a technological standpoint, but from a political one. It takes a leap of suspension of disbelief to think that Cozzano (the hero?) makes it as far as he does.
The story skips major events in the srory, such as Election Day!
Don't get me wrong, this is an entertaining story, but nowhere near as deep as the Stephenson we know and love.
Good thriller, bad Neal Stephenson October 28, 2005
"Unnecessary" Quotes
9 out of 11 found this review helpful
This is a great summer read, which you should be able to knock off in about a week, but this may be the worst Stephenson novel. (Which means it's a good novel, but just not up to the standards usually set by this author.)
This novel has the worst character development of any Stephenson novel that I have ever read. (That includes everything, chronologically, from Zodiac through the Baroque Cycle.) Rather than an interesting critique of the American political process, which is what Stephenson apparently set out to create, Mr. Stephenson has created a passion play in which the characters are superficially developed and somewhat cliched.
The central theme of political hacks hijacking American democracy is interesting enough -- especially considering that this novel was written in the pre-Rovian era -- but this novel uterly lacks the exhaustive research, meticulous prose, and well-rounded characters that make Stephenson one of the greatest modern authors.
When compared to the rest of Stephenson's work, this one is just shy of three stars. When compared with everything else being written in this genre, it gets four and a half. Buy it, read it, but don't expect vintage Stephenson. All in all, what you get here is a very good story that fails to meet the very high expectations set by this author.
 Brilliant! June 2, 2005
T. Brown
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
Truly a Manchurian Candidate for the computer age (thanks for the quote, Seattle Weekly), the story follows the path of one William A. Cozzano on his bid for the presidency. Guidance for his campaign comes from the usual cadre of analysts, speechwriters, policy wogs, et al but Cozzano is best aided by a computer chip. A chip imbedded in his brain...a chip that allows his handlers to, well, go read the book...
The novel traces the side stories of the international development of the chip's technology and application, the tenebrous fraternity that moves to shape global realpolitik to suit its wishes, and the responses of the 'family' Cozzano to the new G4 processor in papa's skull. These give the novel its depth and soul. I particularly enjoyed the lifestories of Eleanor Richmond and Floyd Wayne Vishniak...these characters are beautifully crafted.
This is a clever and deftly-written (as well as enjoyable and highly-credible) tale of politics & technology and the unholy alliance of the two. It works simply because it takes very little imagination to see real-world applications and their implications.
Cheers to the authors for a job well done and also to their publishers for the reprints of this novel and of The Cobweb, another Stephenson/George collaboration. I thoroughly enjoy reading their material and hope they are working on a new offering...
Great place to start for newbies to Stevenson. September 22, 2005
G. Smith (& now)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
If you've seen the size of some of his works, the System of the World trilogy spans almost 3000 pages, then you know what I mean. Six-hundred pages seem like a quick read by comparison, and it does go by quickly.
The incumbent president's platform for re-election is the negation of the national debt. A large conglomerate decides to use it's money to get someone into office that will not renege on the American Debts. This entity sees a perfect opportunity when William A. Cozzano has a stroke and thus opens up the possibility of a new procedure. Doctors implant a chip in his brain to replace lost nerve connections. However, who is now making his decisions?
Part thriller, part political satire, this will keep you hooked wondering how it will all work out.
Oh, yeah; if you want a cheaper copy, just input "Interface" at the search for books menu and it should bring up an earlier edition printed in 1999. It is the same book under the pseudonym Steven Bury and can be had for about two dollars plus shipping.
Great for Stephenson fans... others should avoid April 7, 2006
Inchoatus.com (Greeley, CO United States)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
While this is a great book for entertainment purposes and will be purchased rabidly and enjoyed by (the great number of) Stephenson fans, it will have little impact on the genre as a whole. Stephenons's flair is on display here but it is not the sort of thing that will affect future writers. It's a book strictly for Stephenson enthusiasts and not a book by which readers should be introduced to Stephenson. For introductions, see Snow Crash or Cryptonomicon.
WHO SHOULD READ THIS
As we suggest, Stephenson fans will and should purchase this book and read it. There is something ineffably glorious about reading Stephenson's work for many people. For anyone who is familiar with his writing and laughs that kind of deep joyous laugh-this is a great book and should be read. It will be read quickly over a couple fo days in a kind of furious pace. Readers who enjoy thrillers such as John Grisham or Michael Crichton or Tom Clancy, then this book will probably be very delightful and exciting. Stephenson has none of the pretensions that these other authors sometimes have. You get all of the insight, all of the suspense, plus a great bit of comedic relief.
WHO SHOULD PASS
People who are investigating Stephenson for the first time should avoid this book. The Baroque Cycle may be his opus, Cryptonomicon is, we feel, his best book. Snow Crash is Stephenson at his most accessible and perhaps his most relevant. We have avoided saying anything about J. Frederick George merely because we don't know where he fits in with the obviously Stephensonesque prose. He is an author that will subsume others in the ferocity and incandescence of his work. To investigate George and gauge him as a writer, this would be a terrible book to purchase. If you're looking for history, by one of his books Civilization Past and Present.
READ THE ENTIRE REVIEW AT INCHOATUS.COM
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