Set in two different time periods, WWII and the '90s, and with half a dozen main characters, Cryptonomicon is one of the most ambitious novels I have ever read. It combines war drama, POW chronicles, action in the jungle, corporate espionage, analog and digital encryption/decryption, computer hacking, existential angst, love stories, and many more, with great success and a fine sense of humour. Maybe it's a little bit more lengthy than it should have been, maybe someone who isn't really into cryptography will find it tedious occasionally, but overall is a great book. I will surely read something more from Neal Stephenson soon.