Neal Stephenson discusses & signs D: HEAVY WATER at B&N Northgate

Join Barnes & Noble Northgate in Seattle, WA on Wednesday, October 28th, 2026, at 6PM PST as we welcome Neal Stephenson to discuss and sign D: HEAVY WATER, the second installment in his monumental Bomb Light series -- a gripping tale set on the eve of World War II, as nations race to find and control an elusive substance critical to building atomic weapons.

Bonus: Each ticket comes with a signed copy of D: HEAVY WATER!

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To make this event safe and enjoyable for all attendees, please read the below guidelines ahead of buying a ticket, so you know what to expect on the day. To avoid disappointment, we must stress that there will be no access to the event for non-ticketholders.

Barnes & Noble reserves the right to make new rules and orders in its sole discretion with regard to COVID-19 at any time and any person not abiding by the Barnes & Noble directives will be refused entrance or directed to leave the premises.

TICKET OPTIONS

D: HEAVY WATER Book Admission - $32.06 (Admission + one signed copy of D: HEAVY WATER ***LIMITED QUANTITY AVAILABLE***: A ticket PER PERSON includes:

• One signed copy of D: HEAVY WATER.
• Admission to the discussion and signing line with Neal Stephenson.

--> Seating is limited on a first come, first served basis, and standing room will be provided. Purchase of a ticket guarantees entrance to the event for the discussion. However, this ticket may not necessarily guarantee a seat at the event, as later arrivals may be placed in standing room behind the seated audience. If you require assistance, please let us know. We are happy to accommodate you.

GUIDELINES + SIGNING INFORMATION

• Only candid photos will be taken during the signing. Photos may be taken from in front of the table. A B&N bookseller will be on-hand to assist.
• Neal will personalize D: HEAVY WATER and any additional books. There is no limit at this time. If you are bringing a large volume of books, we kindly ask that you wait toward the end of the line.
• Signed copies of the author's backlist will be available to purchase at the event,
• Ticket holders will be admitted into the event space beginning at 5PM the day of the event. Check-in will be closed before this time and seating may not be reserved until then. Please have a copy of your ticket available (either printed out or on your phone) for check-in.
• Due to health and safety and space limitations, those without a ticket will not be permitted into the event space.
• Any gifts for the author will be collected prior to the signing line.
• No memorabilia will be signed at the event.
• No large bags will be permitted into the event.

• The exact time at which the event ends will be determined on the day. To avoid disappointment, we strongly advise you to arrive on time for the event. Late arrivals may not have the opportunity to meet the author.

• All event guidelines are subject to change.

• If you have any additional questions, please can call the store directly at: (206) 417-2967
• Barnes & Noble may cancel this event at any time with or without notice to the ticket holders.

Please note that Eventbrite is the only authorized dealer for this event. Each person must have a ticket to enter.

REFUNDS

Attendees can receive refunds up to 1 day (24 hours) before your event start TIME of 6PM.

If you are unable to attend the event, Barnes & Noble - Northgate (Seattle, WA) will hold your books for seven days after the event. Please contact the store to arrange your pickup.

Should this event be canceled due to changing COVID-19 concerns, all customers will be refunded their ticket price to the original method of payment per Eventbrite's refund policy.

Event guidelines are subject to change.

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ABOUT D: HEAVY WATER

From Neal Stephenson, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Polostan and Cryptonomicon, comes the second installment in his monumental Bomb Light series-a gripping tale set on the eve of World War II, as nations race to find and control an elusive substance critical to building atomic weapons.

Europe, 1934. British journalist Owen Crisp-Upjohn is dispatched to Moscow, where his assignments quickly escalate from cultural reporting to international espionage. Before long, Owen finds himself pulled into the orbit of the enigmatic Earl of Suffolk, a maverick aristocrat, and Aurora, a curiously compelling woman with a shadowy past rooted in Soviet intelligence.

Their mission soon becomes clear: secure the earth's only supply of deuterium-"heavy water"-before it falls into Nazi hands. The high-stakes pursuit takes them from London's plush drawing rooms to Barcelona, ravaged by the Spanish Civil War; from far-flung Soviet aerodromes to the perilous, icy landscapes of occupied Norway. Over time, Owen evolves from a detached observer into a man forced to confront profound questions of honor, love, and moral responsibility as loyalties are tested and allegiances shift in an ever-tightening web of science, intrigue, and deceit.

Rich with historical insight, emotionally complex characters, and a relentless sense of urgency with a world on the edge of cataclysm, D: Heavy Water is a suspenseful and wildly entertaining tale of courage and consequence in which humankind's future is shaped by decisions made in the shadows.

ABOUT NEAL STEPHENSON

Neal Stephenson is an American author, futurist and game designer most well known for his works of speculative fiction. He was first published in 1984, but it was not until the publication of his third book Snow Crash that he became widely known. He gained further notoriety in 1999 with the publication of Cryptonomicon which would later go on to earn the Prometheus Hall of Fame Award in 2013. Since 2000 he has published several other major works including his Baroque Cycle, Anathem and most recently Seveneves. He lives in Seattle.