Nope. It's not a new book by Neal Stephenson (author of Cryptonomicon) but a re-release of an earlier (1988) Stephenson novel. And normally I cast a jaundiced eye over the tactic of releasing an author's back-catalogue because of the runaway popularity of a newer book.
That's not the case here, because ZODIAC is a rattlin' good read on its own merits and – in many ways – a thematic precursor of Cryptonomicon. Readers who liked that book deserve to be introduced to this one.
ZODIAC is the story of Sangamon Taylor, a radical environmentalist – or, in his own words, "professional asshole" – with the Boston chapter of GEE (Group of Environmental Extremists) International.
His preferred mode of transport: a Zodiac inflatable boat. His job: to disrupt the operations of illegal polluters. His resources: minimal funding, technical expertise, and a devious mind. His vices: nitrous oxide ("the simpler the molecule, the better the drug") and starry-eyed young women in the environmental movement. His dislikes: fair-weather environmentalists ("duck-squeezers") and most people in general.
Your standard knight-errant, really.
Which shows what a good writer Neal Stephenson is, because he manages to portray his hero in a sympathetic way without glossing over his faults.
There's no need to go into the plot here – standard fare, really, if your tastes run to environmental thrillers about PCB contamination, rogue genetic engineering, political skulduggery, and Satanist angel-dust-head heavy-metal fans.
The story moves on at a cracking pace, and is generally intelligent and well-written. Maybe the denouement is a bit weak, but you might disagree with me on that.
The verdict? I liked it. Read it.