The Big U
Encyclopedia
The Big U is Neal Stephenson
's first published novel
, a satire
of campus life.
Told in first person from the perspective of Bud, a lecturer in Remote Sensing new to the university, the book attacks and makes fun of just about every conceivable group at university, though its portraits of the nerds/computer scientists/role players tend to be more detailed than those of other factions.
The events take place at a fictitious big university consisting of a single building (a central complex with eight towers containing student housing), making the university an enclosed universe of its own.
Stephenson uses this fact to take what starts as a mostly realistic satire and move it further and further into the realm of improbability, with giant radioactive rats, hordes of bats and a lab-made railgun.
was published, The Big U was out of print, and Stephenson was content to leave it that way. When original editions began selling on eBay
for hundreds of dollars, he relented and allowed it to be republished, saying that the only thing worse than people reading the book was paying that much to read it.
The book was written while Stephenson was at Boston University
. The fictional campus' design is based on a BU dormitory, Warren Towers
. Located at 700 Commonwealth Ave in Boston
, Massachusetts
, it is one of the largest dorms in the US. The character of President Septimius Severus Krupp shares a number of similarities with then BU President John Silber
, although his name and the names of his predecessors as Presidents of the big U are taken from the Roman Emperors Commodus
to Septimus Severus. The neon Big Wheel sign plays the part of the Citgo sign just east of the BU campus in Kenmore Square
. The Big U's financial crisis and the lost library catalog are based on actual events.
Neal Stephenson
Neal Town Stephenson is an American writer known for his works of speculative fiction.Difficult to categorize, his novels have been variously referred to as science fiction, historical fiction, cyberpunk, and postcyberpunk...
's first published novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
, a satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
of campus life.
Plot
The story chronicles the disillusionment of a number of young intellectuals as they encounter the realities of the higher education establishment parodied in the story. Over time their lives and sanity disintegrate in different ways through a series of escalating events that culminates with a full scale civil war raging on the campus of American Megaversity.Told in first person from the perspective of Bud, a lecturer in Remote Sensing new to the university, the book attacks and makes fun of just about every conceivable group at university, though its portraits of the nerds/computer scientists/role players tend to be more detailed than those of other factions.
The events take place at a fictitious big university consisting of a single building (a central complex with eight towers containing student housing), making the university an enclosed universe of its own.
Stephenson uses this fact to take what starts as a mostly realistic satire and move it further and further into the realm of improbability, with giant radioactive rats, hordes of bats and a lab-made railgun.
Characters
- Bert Nix
- Bud Redfield (narrator)
- Casimir Radon
- Dex Fresser
- Ephraim Klein
- Fred Fine (Chris the Systems Analyst)
- Giant Sewer Rats
- Hyacinth
- Sarah Jane Johnson
- Septimius Severus Krupp
- Virgil Gabrielsen (White Priest)
- The Worm
- Yllas Freedperson
Groups and organizations at American Megaversity
- The Airheads
- Computing Club
- The Crotobaltslavonians(AKA: 'The B-Men')
- The Faculty Union
- Megaversity Association for Reenactments and Simulations (M.A.R.S.)
- Stalinist Underground Battalion (S.U.B.)
- Physics Club
- The Terrorists
- Big Wheel Men
- Cowboys
- Droogs
- Ninjas
- Provisional Wing of the Irish Republican Army (Unofficial)
- Roy G Bivs
- Wild and Crazy Guys
- Temple of the Unlimited Godhead (T.U.G.)
Literary significance and criticism
Stephenson has said he is not proud of this book. By the time Snow CrashSnow Crash
Snow Crash is Neal Stephenson's third novel, published in 1992. Like many of Stephenson's other novels it covers history, linguistics, anthropology, archaeology, religion, computer science, politics, cryptography, memetics, and philosophy....
was published, The Big U was out of print, and Stephenson was content to leave it that way. When original editions began selling on eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
for hundreds of dollars, he relented and allowed it to be republished, saying that the only thing worse than people reading the book was paying that much to read it.
The book was written while Stephenson was at Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
. The fictional campus' design is based on a BU dormitory, Warren Towers
Warren Towers
Warren Towers is one of the three Boston University dormitories traditionally intended for underclassmen, the others being The Towers and West Campus. The building is located at central campus, next to the College of Communication and across from the College of Arts and Sciences...
. Located at 700 Commonwealth Ave in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, it is one of the largest dorms in the US. The character of President Septimius Severus Krupp shares a number of similarities with then BU President John Silber
John Silber
John Robert Silber is an American academician and former candidate for public office. From 1971 to 1996 he was President of Boston University and from 1996 to 2003 Chancellor of the University. Since 2003 he has been its President Emeritus. In 1990, Silber took a leave of absence from the...
, although his name and the names of his predecessors as Presidents of the big U are taken from the Roman Emperors Commodus
Commodus
Commodus , was Roman Emperor from 180 to 192. He also ruled as co-emperor with his father Marcus Aurelius from 177 until his father's death in 180. His name changed throughout his reign; see changes of name for earlier and later forms. His accession as emperor was the first time a son had succeeded...
to Septimus Severus. The neon Big Wheel sign plays the part of the Citgo sign just east of the BU campus in Kenmore Square
Kenmore Square
Kenmore Square is a square in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, consisting of the intersection of several main avenues as well as several other cross streets, and Kenmore Station, an MBTA subway stop. Kenmore Square is close to or abuts Boston University, Fenway Park, and Lansdowne Street, a...
. The Big U's financial crisis and the lost library catalog are based on actual events.
Connections to Stephenson's later work
- Julian JaynesJulian JaynesJulian Jaynes was an American psychologist, best known for his book The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind , in which he argued that ancient peoples were not conscious....
' theory of the bicameral mind used by Stephenson in this novel to explain the behaviour of some of the cult-like student groups is a important part of the plot of Snow CrashSnow CrashSnow Crash is Neal Stephenson's third novel, published in 1992. Like many of Stephenson's other novels it covers history, linguistics, anthropology, archaeology, religion, computer science, politics, cryptography, memetics, and philosophy....
. - The idea of institutions of learning also serving as repositories of nuclear waste reappears in AnathemAnathemAnathem is a speculative fiction novel by Neal Stephenson, published in 2008. Major themes include the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics and the philosophical debate between Platonic realism and formalism.-Plot summary:...
.