The Weekly Standard had a long article on Stephenson's Baroque Cycle a couple of weeks ago:
Back to the Baroque: Neal Stephenson's science fiction of the past.
Wow, I am going to have to check out Neal Stephenson's books. Sounds right down my alley. Historically-based fiction and alternate history, with a dose of science mixed in, is the genre I enjoy most.
Do you recommend any specific one? Or should I just start with Quicksilver?
Does anyone remember an obscure novel called Islandia? It was written probably in the 1920's and became something of a cult classic, I believe. I have thought of that book more than once when listening to the Democrats describe their perfect world.