Anathem, the latest invention by the New York Times bestselling author of Cryptonomicon and The Baroque Cycle, is a magnificent creation: a work of great scope, intelligence, and imagination that ushers readers into a recognizable — yet strangely inverted — world.Fraa Erasmas is a young avout living in the Concent of Saunt Edhar, a sanctuary for mathematicians, scientists, and philosophers, protected from the corrupting influences of the outside "saecular" world by ancient stone, honored traditions, and complex rituals. Over the centuries, cities and governments have risen and fallen beyond the concent's walls. Three times during history's darkest epochs violence born of superstition and ignorance has invaded and devastated the cloistered mathic community. Yet the avout have always managed to adapt in the wake of catastrophe, becoming out of necessity even more austere and less dependent on technology and material things. And Erasmas has no fear of the outside — the …
Anathem, the latest invention by the New York Times bestselling author of Cryptonomicon and The Baroque Cycle, is a magnificent creation: a work of great scope, intelligence, and imagination that ushers readers into a recognizable — yet strangely inverted — world.Fraa Erasmas is a young avout living in the Concent of Saunt Edhar, a sanctuary for mathematicians, scientists, and philosophers, protected from the corrupting influences of the outside "saecular" world by ancient stone, honored traditions, and complex rituals. Over the centuries, cities and governments have risen and fallen beyond the concent's walls. Three times during history's darkest epochs violence born of superstition and ignorance has invaded and devastated the cloistered mathic community. Yet the avout have always managed to adapt in the wake of catastrophe, becoming out of necessity even more austere and less dependent on technology and material things. And Erasmas has no fear of the outside — the Extramuros — for the last of the terrible times was long, long ago.Now, in celebration of the week-long, once-in-a-decade rite of Apert, the fraas and suurs prepare to venture beyond the concent's gates — at the same time opening them wide to welcome the curious "extras" in. During his first Apert as a fraa, Erasmas eagerly anticipates reconnecting with the landmarks and family he hasn't seen since he was "collected." But before the week is out, both the existence he abandoned and the one he embraced will stand poised on the brink of cataclysmic change.Powerful unforeseen forces jeopardize the peaceful stability of mathic life and the established ennui of the Extramuros — a threat that only an unsteady alliance of saecular and avout can oppose — as, one by one, Erasmas and his colleagues, teachers, and friends are summoned forth from the safety of the concent in hopes of warding off global disaster. Suddenly burdened with a staggering responsibility, Erasmas finds himself a major player in a drama that will determine the future of his world — as he sets out on an extraordinary odyssey that will carry him to the most dangerous, inhospitable corners of the planet . . . and beyond.
I've had a hard time with some of the other Neal Stephenson books I've tried, but for some reason this one was right up my alley. I disagree with most of his thoughts on metaphysics as presented, but the overall narrative was able to keep me interested much more than I expected. I went into this book expecting to probably set it aside (as I have done with some of Stephenson's other works). I was pleasantly surprised when I found myself staying up late to see where the story would go next.
Really happy with this book. It covered a ton of ground, but it moved along well and I found myself engaged throughout. If I was only better at reading long novels in general I would have finished it a long time ago.
Now onto Gibson's "Zero History", though at some point I'd like to circle back around and finish the Baroque Cycle (I've only finished Quicksilver)
This book is, and was, spectacular. It makes you curious about the strange new world Stephenson has created, but it's only as important as the characters, too. Perfectly balanced, and recommended for everyone. I mean everyone.
I believe I've read every book that Neal Stephenson has written, but I have to say this one is my least favorite. It's densely written, full of invented words, and quite technical - which don't make it a bad book, but do make it a slow and weighty read. The world's scenario is interesting, though rather far-fetched, but Stephenson insists on working in some very odd theories about science and reality that make for a rather odd (and for me unsatisfying) ending.
It only took me three tries to get through this book, compared to seven for Quicksilver, so that's an improvement right there. I found this a fun fast nerdy read (for 950 pages), and with an actual logical ending (yay!) But it does bog down in talky bits quite a lot in the middle, and the conceit of a parallel universe with different names for familiar objects and events feels precious. A decent book but not Stephenson's best.
I don't really understand how Neal Stephenson is a bestselling New York Times author. Is there really that large of an audience for a 900+ page book that sandwiches a narrative of Greek philosophy, quantum mechanics and astronomy with a time line at the beginning and an ending of 50 pages of glossary and mathematical problems?
That's not to say I didn't like Anathem, although, having said that, in large part I liked it because I had the time to memorize entries from the glossary (you grow out of needing it around page 400 or so), to look up quantum mechanics, google philosophers and work out a proof of the Pythagorean theorem. This is a book to be read on vacation.
I loved Anathem. It's one of the few books that really begins on a small scale and then gradually scales up to epic scale problems, while entertaining the reader …
I don't really understand how Neal Stephenson is a bestselling New York Times author. Is there really that large of an audience for a 900+ page book that sandwiches a narrative of Greek philosophy, quantum mechanics and astronomy with a time line at the beginning and an ending of 50 pages of glossary and mathematical problems?
That's not to say I didn't like Anathem, although, having said that, in large part I liked it because I had the time to memorize entries from the glossary (you grow out of needing it around page 400 or so), to look up quantum mechanics, google philosophers and work out a proof of the Pythagorean theorem. This is a book to be read on vacation.
I loved Anathem. It's one of the few books that really begins on a small scale and then gradually scales up to epic scale problems, while entertaining the reader along the way. Similarly, it is one of the few books in which the author tries to posit scientific and philosophic hypotheses while still remaining an entertaining work of fiction and without becoming preachy or (unlike many of Stephenson's other works) an unreadable information dump. His science is entertaining and while it is bettered by outside knowledge, he explains his points in such detail that outside knowledge is not necessary. Stephenson is respectful of quantum mechanics, in contrast to myriad "science" fiction novels that throw around Everett and quantum mechanics as excuses for all manner of convenient magic.
That's not to say that I had no complaints: whole sections of the book drag, particularly because they seem to be rehashing what the reader already has either been told explicitly or intuited and many plans made by characters seem to ultimately go nowhere. More grievous is the closing arc, which has an unfinished feel. After 850 pages of having every action described to the minute detail, the last few pages feel like they're in outline form. Time jumps, plots are dropped, key points are ultimately only intimated and never explained outright. All of these are fine narrative devices but are in stark contrast to the rest of the book and therefore feel unfinished.
Too many books packed into one, and (for the most part) a tedious slog at that. It just feels like Stephenson is trying so hard, to show how smart and well-read and clever he is, that the story has to take distant second place to the author. I could go on for pages about what I liked, disliked, paused to reflect on, and/or rolled my eyes at... but there’s no need. I’m glad I read this; I’m glad it’s over; and I’m unlikely ever to read his books again. Move along.
fun story though it goes into VERY ODD places. Makes the story feel kind of meandering. Also you have to be comfortable with about 30 new words that Neal invents, which can be hard to follow.
its a classically complex story and its mind-boggling how neal gets the storylines and histories to interweave. my favorite parts are explanations of quantum physics and parallel universes, which is a central theme of the book.
This was really hard for me to get into, but the book is well worth slogging through that first chapter. As anyone who has heard me rant about Stephenson before will tell you, I think he suffers from lack-of-editor-itis, but for a nine-hundred plus page book, this didn't FEEL as long as it was. I understand Cryptonomicon felt that way for some people too. (I thought it was crap, but probably because I don't care for alternate history as a genre, and I was terribly disappointed that he'd decided to move away from sci-fi.)
Anyway, this is well worth a read. I almost went with five stars.
This was a good thought provoking book. Like most Neal Stephenson books it was long but It held together really well and felt very coherent and interesting rather than meandering like some other long-winded books. I enjoyed it and I think that I will read it again.
I like Stephenson's writing, and the Mathic world he has built here, even if the space scenes are laborious. There's a bit too much happy serendipity in the plot and Erasmus is too shallow a character. (Though perhaps this is appropriate for a 19-year old man.)
The story, though, feels like a fable meant to educate the reader on two concepts. The many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics and Penrose-style quantum explanations of consciousness. The former is interesting and I applaud bringing it to a wide audience, but the latter is hocus-pocus claptrap. Weaving them together only serves to make both quantum mechanics and the philosophy or mind seem hopelessly mystical and fantastic.
