Cryptonomicon is also one of those that sticks in my mind. Oddly, I have to be reminded about details of Zodiac or Snow Crash. I know the vague general premise, but have largely forgotten them. I don't know why.

I feel like my Bittersweet Seeds story has the potential to be Stephenson-esque, perhaps even on par. The hard part is getting it out of my head and presenting it engagingly and with style.

I'm still not fully familiar with the context of "based" to use it effectively.