Zodiac (1988) is Neal Stephenson's second novel, which tells the story of an environmentalist, Sangamon Taylor, uncovering a conspiracy involving industrialist polluters and Satanists in the Boston Harbor. The "Zodiac" of the title refers to the brand of inflatable motor boats the hero uses to get around the city efficiently. His opponents attempt to frame him as an ecoterrorist.

The protagonist is modeled on eco-activist Marco Kaltofen, who engaged in actions such as plugging illegal outflow pipes, just as described in the book.

This book sees the first instance of Stephenson adding thin connections between his books: though he is not mentioned by name, Hiro Protagonist, the main character from Stephenson's later novel Snow Crash, is alluded to as the boyfriend of one of the background characters — specifically, "the boyfriend who keeps the samurai swords in the trunk of his car." Hiro does, in fact, keep samurai swords in the trunk of his car. (More on that at Snow Crash and The Diamond Age.)

ISBN

• 1995 Reissue — ISBN 0553573861
• Paperback — ISBN 2207252647
• 1st edition — ISBN 0871131811

1988 novels | Boston in fiction | Environmental fiction books | Science fiction novels