Quicksilver Reading CompanionDaniel Waterhouse prepares to depart Massachusetts aboard the Minerva in November 1713 as a fleet of small vessels converges on the ship.
“pursuing one another round the giant capstan on the upperdeck” — A capstan is a vertical-axled rotating machine used on sailing ships to multiply the pulling force of the crew for heavy tasks like weighing anchor.
“messenger cable—an infinite loop, passed three times round the capstan” — Because heavy anchor cables were too thick and stiff to wind around a capstan, a smaller messenger cable loop was used; the anchor cable was lashed to it and then unlashed as it moved.
“at one time I knew as much of opticks as any man alive” — This refers to Opticks, the study of light and lenses; it was a dominant field of 17th-century science led by Isaac Newton’s discoveries and the refinement of telescopes.
“generally more concerned with atheistical ruminations” — Spinozism was frequently equated with atheism or pantheism because Spinoza’s work identified God with Nature, challenging the traditional religious orthodoxy of the era.
“moving in a sort of Zeno’s Paradox mode” — Stephenson’s annotation: “Zeno’s Paradox is actually shorthand for a series of paradoxes… centered around the relation of the discrete to the continuous.” This specific reference is to the “Dichotomy” paradox, where one can never reach a destination because one must first travel half the distance, then half of the remaining distance, infinitely.
“two men could play at shuttlecocks in here” — Battledore and shuttlecock was an early ancestor of badminton played with small rackets (battledores) and a feathered cork.
“wee cabins and wigwams on the hills” — Wigwams were domed dwellings used by Native American tribes in the Northeast, such as the Wampanoag who lived in the Plymouth area.
“swivel-gun mounted in the whaleboat’s prow” — A swivel gun was a small, portable cannon mounted on a rotating stand, used on small boats for close-quarters defense and anti-personnel fire.
“strange information” — Stephenson’s annotation: “This phrase… was employed by me in Cryptonomicon as homage to Suzanne Vega. It has somewhat taken on a life of its own… She invented it, not me.”
“Schooners” — Stephenson’s annotation: “The word ‘schooner’ appears to have been coined in New England in 1713. By using it Dappa is showing off what a hip guy he is.”
“Cap’n Edward Teach, the Admiral of yonder pirate-fleet.” — Better known as Blackbeard, Teach was one of the most notorious pirates of the Golden Age of Piracy. Stephenson’s annotation: “Blackbeard is mostly known as a pirate along the North Carolina coast… a few years later (circa 1717). But pirates were obviously quite mobile… it’s plausible to put him here in 1713.”
“fought on the Queen’s side in the War, helping themselves to Spanish shipping.” — During the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714), the British government issued “letters of marque” to privateers, allowing them to legally plunder Spanish vessels.
“Now that the treaty is signed and we are friendly with Spain” — The Treaty of Utrecht (1713) ended the war and revoked the legal status of privateers; many, including Teach, turned to illegal piracy rather than returning to merchant life.
“Wears smoking punks twined about his head, like burning dreadlocks” — Blackbeard was famous for using slow-burning fuses (punks) in his hair and beard during battle to create a terrifying, demonic aura of smoke, a form of psychological warfare intended to intimidate enemies into surrendering.
Original annotations by: zwolinski, sinder, stephenson