Helpful Score: 4
This is set on a world parallel to ours in which, thousands of years ago, all the smart people were ostracized from the rest of society. They went to live in non-religious convents where they live very simply, but are free to pursue their own thoughts and projects and only occasionally interact with the outside world. Children from the outside who display signs of too much intelligence are brought to these convents to live. All proceeds as normal for thousands of years until all over the world something strange is seen through observatory telescopes. To tell more of the plot would be impossible without spoilers. As the plot progresses though, the reader's understanding of what has already occurred also evolves in a very interesting way.
This book has a vocabulary all it's own (there's a 20-page glossary at the end that includes entries such as my personal favorite "hypotrochian transquaestiation") along with an entirely new kind of science. A large portion of this novel actually consists of characters discussing theoretical science. As such, it takes some persistence to get into--I wasn't hooked until about 140 pages in. For the most part, this book rocks! The author's ability to create all the intricacies of this world, to maintain a sufficient interest level for over 900 pages and to keep the complexity of the plot increasing as it goes is astounding. I love a book that makes me think and to work a little while I'm reading. This is definitely such a book.
However, I do have a few bones to pick. For starters, the complicated theories and discussions of the characters may have been a little over the top and may have bogged down the story a bit. I also didn't particularly care for the ending. I didn't quite understand how what happened could have happened the way it did (which I can't explain without spoilers). There was also a thread of romance running throughout the story that I felt fell flat. I would've liked to have seen this either developed a little more or eliminated entirely.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone with persistence who enjoys spec fic!
This book has a vocabulary all it's own (there's a 20-page glossary at the end that includes entries such as my personal favorite "hypotrochian transquaestiation") along with an entirely new kind of science. A large portion of this novel actually consists of characters discussing theoretical science. As such, it takes some persistence to get into--I wasn't hooked until about 140 pages in. For the most part, this book rocks! The author's ability to create all the intricacies of this world, to maintain a sufficient interest level for over 900 pages and to keep the complexity of the plot increasing as it goes is astounding. I love a book that makes me think and to work a little while I'm reading. This is definitely such a book.
However, I do have a few bones to pick. For starters, the complicated theories and discussions of the characters may have been a little over the top and may have bogged down the story a bit. I also didn't particularly care for the ending. I didn't quite understand how what happened could have happened the way it did (which I can't explain without spoilers). There was also a thread of romance running throughout the story that I felt fell flat. I would've liked to have seen this either developed a little more or eliminated entirely.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone with persistence who enjoys spec fic!
Helpful Score: 3
Stephenson stumbles, or what happens when an author thinks he's outgrown the need for an editor.
I'm a big fan of Neal Stephenson, and was excited when this book came out. What a disappointment. The premise is interesting; an order of monks who (like Stephenson) worship math are the only ones on earth who hold the knowledge to potentially save the planet from a threat. Throw in the usual Stephenson sci-fi twists, like parallel universes, and you have the bones of a good story.
The problem is, Stephenson's usually entertaining stream-of-consciousness writing style fails here. The book is unfocused, self-indulgent, and ultimately rather dull. Although not his longest book, it is far too long for the story it seeks to tell. After 900+ pages I felt, not as though I'd been taken on a warpspeed trip through Stephenson's fertile imagination, but rather that I'd watched him preen in a mirror, admiring the reflection of a popular author.
I'm a big fan of Neal Stephenson, and was excited when this book came out. What a disappointment. The premise is interesting; an order of monks who (like Stephenson) worship math are the only ones on earth who hold the knowledge to potentially save the planet from a threat. Throw in the usual Stephenson sci-fi twists, like parallel universes, and you have the bones of a good story.
The problem is, Stephenson's usually entertaining stream-of-consciousness writing style fails here. The book is unfocused, self-indulgent, and ultimately rather dull. Although not his longest book, it is far too long for the story it seeks to tell. After 900+ pages I felt, not as though I'd been taken on a warpspeed trip through Stephenson's fertile imagination, but rather that I'd watched him preen in a mirror, admiring the reflection of a popular author.
Helpful Score: 2
Anathem is an interesting book. Be warned though it is light on action, moves quite slowly at times and is heavy on dialogue (most of that being scholarly debate). If you can get past that, it is still well worth reading.
Wow -- what a powerful read. It takes you about 150 pages to get rolling and then the rollercoaster begins. My husband and I really enjoyed this book. It's a bit complicated and has some great ideas throughout, so pay attention to everything! Even if you don't grasp all the mathmatical themes and concepts, you still get a great adventure. Take your time -- it's a great book.
What a bunch of useless drivel. If I had to read books like this reading would be no fun. At first it is fun then it becomes monotonous. What a bore. Stephenson tries to impress us with his use of his own made up language. I could only take so much of his use of hihinkydinks, wambamabazoozas, clinkclankydanks and imjustfullofcrap. Once you get past the made up language that you may here a 3 year old use while playing with his imaginary friend, I found that there was not anything interesting about the story. A very simple tale cloaked and disguised as something complicated to make you feel like you are reading something intelligent or enlightening. The only thing amazing about this book is that I actually finished it.
Very dense read. It took a while to get in the flow of the book but I enjoyed the storyline and the combination of mathematics, physics & science with quasi-religious mysticism
This book will not be for everyone. It takes a while to wrap your head around the new terminology and wading through the theoretical discussions will either be a joy or a complete bore, depending on your personal tastes. For me, it was a tremendously good read...one of the best of its kind.
I love this book. It starts slowly as the author builds the world by describing the technology and social structure in which the story takes place. By the end the plot is moving at a breakneck pace that can be hard to keep up with. I have read it twice, and I will almost certainly read it again in a year or two.
Highly recommended, especially if you are a fan of Stephenson's other work.
Highly recommended, especially if you are a fan of Stephenson's other work.
a thoroughly enjoyable if dense treatise on alternate universes -- although you may not know that for the first four hundred pages or so. it has great characterization, and very unusual settings and simulations. everything is present just-so, and you have got to give Stephenson credit for a well thought out world, with believable people. It's a bit of a slog to get through, but push on, and you will enjoy it.
Absoulute pleasure! Brilant! I love this book! Sci Fi fans will eat it up! Clearly Stephenson is going in a new derection from his old school "cyberpunk" novels, but I love the new direction. Stephenson creates a world so dense and complex that I sometimes had to remind myself of where I was. I was so consumed with this novel that I found myself thinking about it and the questions it rasied even while going about my daily life. Even though it is 800+ pages I read this book in under a week,because I literaly could not put it down. Yes it is "dense" but in the most wonderfull get lost in it kind of way! I was so sad when this book ended.
Just finished re-reading for book club.
I'm giving it 5 stars, even though, after reading it twice I do feel justified in saying that the pacing does flag in a couple of places (during Raz' final conversations with Orolo, and during the Convox). The first time I thought it might just have been my mood while I was reading those passages, but I felt exactly the same the second time around.
Still, the book has more than enough 'awesome' for two or three 5-star novels, so 5 stars it gets nevertheless. With the couple of exceptions I noted, the book does a great job of presenting mathematical and philosophical ideas in the context of an exciting, fascinating story with intriguing and well-rounded characters. As well, it is frequently humorous, and has very clever use of language. It reminds me quite a lot of the novels of Umberto Eco.
I'm giving it 5 stars, even though, after reading it twice I do feel justified in saying that the pacing does flag in a couple of places (during Raz' final conversations with Orolo, and during the Convox). The first time I thought it might just have been my mood while I was reading those passages, but I felt exactly the same the second time around.
Still, the book has more than enough 'awesome' for two or three 5-star novels, so 5 stars it gets nevertheless. With the couple of exceptions I noted, the book does a great job of presenting mathematical and philosophical ideas in the context of an exciting, fascinating story with intriguing and well-rounded characters. As well, it is frequently humorous, and has very clever use of language. It reminds me quite a lot of the novels of Umberto Eco.
OMG. this blew my freeking mind. I'm gonna have to read it again because Neal is WAY smarter than I am. I've read other stuff by this guy and loved it, but this one is so much more: like going from chocolate chips to tootsie rolls.
