Well, I didn't hope he'd be killed, but I sure didn't like that book: if I want to be depressed I'll watch the news.

Based on the rx. above, I checked Cryptonomicon out of the library. I am on page 103 out of, I think, 916. I am having to force myself to keep going back to it. Maybe eventually something will happen; or maybe at least the story lines will converge somehow...