The System of the World cover art

The System of the World

Book Eight of The Baroque Cycle

 Preview

Audible Standard 30-day free trial

Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Standard auto renews for £5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The System of the World

By: Neal Stephenson
Narrated by: Neal Stephenson (introduction), Kevin Pariseau, Simon Prebble
Try Standard free

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £15.78

Buy Now for £15.78

About this listen

In this concluding volume of Neal Stephenson’s epic work, “Half-Cocked Jack” Shaftoe must escape the noose of Jack Ketch; the rivalry between Newton and Leibniz comes to a head; and Daniel Waterhouse pursues his dream to build the Logic Mill.

The Baroque Cycle, Neal Stephenson’s award-winning series, spans the late 17th and early 18th centuries, combining history, adventure, science, invention, piracy, and alchemy into one sweeping tale. It is a gloriously rich, entertaining, and endlessly inventive historical epic populated by the likes of Isaac Newton, William of Orange, Benjamin Franklin, and King Louis XIV, along with some of the most inventive literary characters in modern fiction.

Audible’s complete and unabridged presentation of The Baroque Cycle was produced in cooperation with Neal Stephenson. Each volume includes an exclusive introduction read by the author.

©2004 Neal Stephenson (P)2010 Audible, Inc. Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Political Science Fiction Suspense Thriller & Suspense Fiction Royalty Middle Ages

Critic reviews

“Learned, violent, sarcastic and profound: a glorious finish to one of the most ambitious epics of recent years.” ( Kirkus Reviews)
The sort of work that quickly becomes an obsession.” ( Toronto Star)
All stars
Most relevant
enjoyed these books so much,fantastic writing,interesting history and humour, I've already started Quicksilver again in case I missed anything.

I have

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Having listened to all eight books now, I must say a hearty thanks for this experience. Most of the history is accurate, some fanciful but the story works in such a way as to pull you through the cauldron of late 17th century Europe, around the world and back to the beginning of the modern period and the first stirrings of industry.

Fantastic performance.

What a journey!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Satisfying conclusion to the epic and as with the other installments, excellent performance by narrator

if you've got this far you'll not be disappointed

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The whole of the Baroque Cycle has been an awe-inspiring journey. I don't know how one man can write such intelligent yet gripping stories. Well performed, as always. If you've listened to the rest of the series, you'll already know to get this. If you haven't, start at the beginning!

Phenomenal series, fitting end.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Everything you hoped for: every story thread, character arch, every t crossed, every i dotted, to perfect satisfaction. Lovers of history, politics, science, philosophy and many other eldritch curiosities all get their payoffs and rewards for following this circuitous, baroque journey to its conclusion.
In a, “baroque,” way, you could say this has been a story about the founding of America. Though, that is the continent we see less of than any other.
My life will be duller without the sparkle of Eliza, Daniel, the Shafto’s and the many other, mostly real, some imagined, cast of supporting players.
I’m willing to bet that the fans of this series will feel rewarded with the ending they were hoping for. I know I was.

I Will Miss These People

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews