> I have a first printing hardcover Cryptonomicon sitting in front of me, that I haven't cracked opened yet.

Cryptonomicon is very easy to start, you meet Alan Turing right in the first pages, and things progress nicely. The book is long, and jumps randomly between several different storylines, so finishing it is another matter. But it is easy to start.

And because it is essentially just a collection of stories, finishing it is not even really important. Just keep on reading as long as you enjoy.