Yes, another massive tome from Neal Stephenson. No, it's nothing like the wonderful-but-unending Baroque Cycle trilogy. Anathem sees Stephenson settling back into writing what fans love about his books--a fun and funny narrative filled with a large cast of characters and a deep, intriguing plot.
The world Stephenson paints here is full of so many possibilities; that world--and the mysterious plot that's weaved--quickly becomes engrossing. While Anathem still contains the heady philosophical and scientific explanations/explorations that readers since Cryptonomicon have come to expect, there's also a lighter breeziness to the reading that hasn't been seen since Snow Crash. The story's central mystery and subsequent "quest" really turn the pages; and the first-person narrative gives the book an accessibility that the Baroque Cycle lacked. But all of the great hallmarks of Neal Stephenson are still here: strong, independent, intelligent women characters, plenty of computer-sciency/techy ...
must... not... finish... all... at... once...
Neal Stephenson's work is so amazing. It is the best.
I am really enjoying this book so far. He's introduced the idea of the cousins being from different cosmi that have slightly different natural laws. I will be sad when this book is over!
I have never been more disappointed when a book ended. I suppose we can only hope for a sequel or two.
If you sincerely believed in God, how could you form one thought, speak one sentence, without mentioning Him? Instead of which Deolaters like Beller would go on for hours without bringing God into the conversation at all. Maybe his God was remote from our doings. Or—more likely— maybe the presence of God was so obvious to him that he felt no more need to speak of it than I did to point out, all the time, that I was breathing air.
"Nothing is more important than that you see and love the beauty that is right in front of you, or else you will have no defense against the ugliness that will hem you in and come at you in so many ways." —(Fraa Orolo to Fraa Erasmus)
Another simply amazing work by Neal. This book was such a journey to read that upon finishing it I immediately began rereading Quicksilver. If I have one minor complaint it's the unnecessary "jock" bashing - referenced in the book by slines who wear shirts with their favorite teams on them...and in the trailer for the book as well...it is possible to be a geek and a jock both you know!
I liked it. A lot. I was a little uneasy with the ending, particularly in the way Stephenson handles his Deolators, but then I realized everyone stands for something -- Stephenson is simply standing for the primacy of pure thought, God bless him. And the 'getting there' part was just fantastic. As was his handling of the practicalities of multi-cosmic consciousness. A cracking good read.
Additional information
- Pages: 960
- ISBN: 0061474096
- EAN: 9780061474095
- Dewey: 813.54
- Binding: Hardcover
- Publisher: William Morrow
Loved the first ~1/3 of the book (brilliant!) and was disappointed in the rest.
nanobar replies...
Bummer -- I thought it was good all the way through.
cmiles replies...
I was into it until the ship in orbit was identified - the first third reminded me of the Glass Bead Game by Hermann Hesse and House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds and really grabbed me/made me think.