Andrew Leonard points out that Confusion features more bent reality like Stephenson's science fiction than Quicksilver.[2] Also, Leonard notes that the book is more focused on "Kidnapping, murder, torture, war, poison, treachery, romance and despair" than Quicksilver had been.[2]
Comments about Stephenson's humor pervade its reviews. The New Zealand Herald, called it "rich, clever, [and] as dryly funny as ever."[3]
