Stephenson’s first book, The Big U is funny and foreshadows some of the repeating themes that appear in his later books.

Here we have a huge university—American MegaVersity—complete with vast amounts of bureaucracy, indifferent students, befuddled faculty, scary administrators, a computer worm roaming the school’s mainframe, mysterious Crotobaltislovians, and a few smart folks trying to survive and move forward.

Over the course of the school year, conditions at the MegaVersity disintegrate, with some students developing bicameral minds, allowing them to receive instructions from inanimate objects (notably the Big Wheel, an enormous neon sign). By the middle of the spring semester, events move the university to the brink of destruction, with a labor dispute closing down classes, but other groups preventing students from leaving. Our heroes do what they can to save the university and themselves.

The Big U isn’t as polished as Stephenson’s later books, but that’s not a surprise. Some of the material looks a bit dated these days (the use of mainframes is dying out, even within the administration), but the book is generally amusing and certainly reminded me of my early college experiences.

Even though this is one of Stephenson’s earlier works, it’s still absolutely hilarious.

Almost done with this. Doesn’t come close to Stephenson’s other books in my opinion.