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{{For-multi|the ship|SS United States|the controlled flood study|Lower Manhattan Coastal Resiliency}}
{{short description|Novel by Neal Stephenson}}
{{Short description|1984 novel by Neal Stephenson}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2017}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox book | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Novels or Wikipedia:WikiProject_Books -->
{{Infobox book | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Novels or Wikipedia:WikiProject_Books -->
| name = The Big U
| name = The Big U
| image = Big-u-cover.png <!--prefer 1st edition-->
| image = Big-u-cover.png
| caption = First edition
| caption = Reprint Cover
| alt = A blue [[Letterman (sports)#Letter jacket|letterman jacket]] shown from the back with a large letter U emblazoned on it.
| author = [[Neal Stephenson]]
| author = [[Neal Stephenson]]
| country = United States
| country = United States
| language = English
| language = English
| genre = [[Satire ]]
| genre = [[Satire]]
| publisher = [[Harper Perennial]]
| publisher = [[Vintage Books]]
| pub_date = 1984
| pub_date = 1984
| media_type = Print ([[Hardcover|Hardback]] & [[Paperback]])
| media_type = Print ([[Hardcover|Hardback]] & [[Paperback]])
Line 19: Line 19:
| oclc = 45162137
| oclc = 45162137
}}
}}

'''''The Big U''''' ([[1984 in literature|1984]]) is a novel by American writer [[Neal Stephenson]]. His [[debut novel|first published novel]], it is a [[satire]] of campus life.
'''''The Big U''''' ([[1984 in literature|1984]]) is a novel by American writer [[Neal Stephenson]]. His [[debut novel|first published novel]], it is a [[satire]] of campus life.


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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''.
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 who is new to the university, the book attacks and makes fun of just about every conceivable group at university, though its portraits of the [[nerd]]s/[[computer scientist]]s/[[Role-playing game|role players]] tend to be more detailed than those of other factions.
Told in the first person from the perspective of Bud, a lecturer in Remote Sensing who is new to the university, the book attacks and makes fun of just about every conceivable group at university, though its portraits of the [[nerd]]s/[[computer scientist]]s/[[Role-playing game|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 whose eight towers costudent 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]].
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]].


The book was written while Stephenson attended [[Boston University]]. The fictional campus' design is based on a BU dormitory, {{citation needed span|date=September 2017|text=[[Warren Towers]].}} Located at 700 [[Commonwealth Avenue (Boston)|Commonwealth Avenue]] 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 -- like those of his predecessors as president of the big U -- is taken from one of the [[Roman Emperors]] from [[Commodus]] to [[Septimius Severus]]. The neon Big Wheel sign plays a part reminiscent of the [[Boston Citgo sign]] just east of the BU campus in [[Kenmore Square]].
The book was written while Stephenson attended [[Boston University]] and the fictional campus is parallel to BU in many ways. The dormitories are similar to [[Warren Towers]], one of the largest dorms in the US. The character of President Septimius Severus Krupp shares traits with then–BU President [[John Silber]], although his name—like those of his predecessors as president of the Big U—is taken from the Roman Emperor [[Septimius Severus]]. The neon Big Wheel sign plays a part reminiscent of the [[Boston Citgo sign]] just east of the BU campus in [[Kenmore Square]].


==Literary significance and criticism==
==Literary significance and criticism==
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== Connections to Stephenson's later work==
== Connections to Stephenson's later work==
* [[Julian Jaynes]]' theory of the [[bicameral mind]] used by Stephenson in this novel to explain the behaviour of some of the cult-like student groups is an important part of the plot of ''[[Snow Crash]]''.
* [[Julian Jaynes]]' theory of the [[bicameral mind]] used by Stephenson in this novel to explain the behavior of some of the cult-like student groups is an important part of the plot of ''[[Snow Crash]]''.
* The idea of institutions of learning also serving as repositories of nuclear waste reappears in ''[[Anathem]]''.
* The idea of institutions of learning also serving as repositories of nuclear waste reappears in ''[[Anathem]]''.


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==Sources==
==Sources==
* {{cite news |last = Cheuse |first = Alan |title = MURDEROUS PRANKS |publisher = The New York Times |date = 1984-09-30 |accessdate = 2007-01-09 |url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C04E2DD153BF933A0575AC0A962948260 }}
* {{cite news |last = Cheuse |first = Alan |title = Murderous Pranks |newspaper = The New York Times |date = 1984-09-30 |access-date = 2007-01-09 |url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C04E2DD153BF933A0575AC0A962948260 }}


{{NealStephensonBooks}}
{{NealStephensonBooks}}
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[[Category:1984 American novels]]
[[Category:1984 American novels]]
[[Category:1984 science fiction novels]]
[[Category:1984 science fiction novels]]
⚫
[[Category:Novels by Neal Stephenson]]
⚫
[[Category:Debut novels]]
[[Category:Campus novels]]
[[Category:Campus novels]]
⚫
[[Category:Novels by Neal Stephenson]]
⚫
[[Category:1984 debut novels]]
[[Category:American satirical novels]]

Latest revision as of 12:41, 13 June 2024

For the ship, see SS United States. For the controlled flood study, see Lower Manhattan Coastal Resiliency.
The Big U
First edition
AuthorNeal Stephenson
LanguageEnglish
GenreSatire
PublisherVintage Books
Publication date
1984
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages320
ISBN0-380-81603-2
OCLC45162137
813/.54 21
LC ClassPS3569.T3868 B5 2001

The Big U (1984) is a novel by American writer Neal Stephenson. His first published novel, it is a satire of campus life.

Plot

[edit]

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 the first person from the perspective of Bud, a lecturer in Remote Sensing who is 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.

The book was written while Stephenson attended Boston University and the fictional campus is parallel to BU in many ways. The dormitories are similar to Warren Towers, one of the largest dorms in the US. The character of President Septimius Severus Krupp shares traits with then–BU President John Silber, although his name—like those of his predecessors as president of the Big U—is taken from the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus. The neon Big Wheel sign plays a part reminiscent of the Boston Citgo sign just east of the BU campus in Kenmore Square.

Literary significance and criticism

[edit]

Stephenson has said he is not proud of this book.[1] When Stephenson's Snow Crash was published in 1992, the book that became a best-seller and vaulted him to fame, 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 The Big U to be republished, saying that the only thing worse than people reading the book was paying that much to read it.

Connections to Stephenson's later work

[edit]
  • Julian Jaynes' theory of the bicameral mind used by Stephenson in this novel to explain the behavior of some of the cult-like student groups is an important part of the plot of Snow Crash.
  • The idea of institutions of learning also serving as repositories of nuclear waste reappears in Anathem.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Neal Stephenson states that "The Big U is what it is: a first novel written in a hurry by a young man a long time ago." Author website Archived 2011-05-20 at the Wayback Machine

Sources

[edit]
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