A recent Ask Metafilter thread posed a rather odd question: Are there any female writers whose work is similar to Neal Stephenson? The reason I found the question somewhat odd (other than the whole “why do the writer’s chromosomes matter?” part) was that the requester was looking particularly for writers who were similar in regard to, “how he is perfectly willing to take 900 pages to explore whatever he feels like. Like, a lot of other writers would take out that section in Anathem about the folding chairs, or in Cryptonomicon about the cereal, etc. but those are some of my favorite parts.”

So you’re looking for geeky female authors who are discursive as all get-out. Huh.

Anyway, the MeFites responded with some interesting suggestions, so if you’re looking for Stephenson in drag this thread would be a good place to start.

(via Cynical-C)