Cryptonomicon

Brief Overview

«Cryptonomicon» by Neal Stephenson is a science fiction novel that intertwines two timelines: World War II and the late 1990s. At the heart of the story are cryptographers and hackers working on creating digital currency and secure communications. In the wartime storyline, the main character, Lawrence Waterhouse, a mathematician and cryptographer, works on cracking German codes. In the modern timeline, his grandson, programmer Randy Waterhouse, along with his team, attempts to create an independent digital economy. The novel explores themes of cryptography, secrecy, the power of information, and their impact on society.