Book Review: Anathem
Book Review
Title: Anathem
Author:Neal Stephenson
Publisher:William Morrow (c)2008
Genre: Science Fiction
Turq's rating: 4 out of 4 corner-chewings
Favorite quote: "I'd have become a Deolater and gone on a pilgrimage of any length to find a magic bath that would wash away the mess I'd just made."
Summary:
A world where intellectuals are hidden in 'monastaries', isolated from the general populace. Perhaps for their own protection, perhaps for other reasons. A young 'monk', a student of logic and semantics, becomes caught in the adventure of a lifetime, when his teacher sees -something- in a telescope. That something turns out to threaten his way of life, his relationships, and perhaps his entire world.
Detailed Review:
Neal Stephenson once again shows why he's a great storyteller. He weaves a world that is in some ways completely alien, but makes it seem comfortable and familiar. The text is smattered with words of an invented language that reminds one of Latin, but it seems second-nature after a chapter or so, serving to lend to the book's monastic intellectual feel. Unlike, say, 'A Clockwork Orange', I quickly picked the meanings of the words up via context, and didn't find myself diving for the glossary. Some of the more important terms are defined in footnotes and such anyway. The story itself, following a 'monk' named Erasmus, builds rather slowly. The book manages to keep you entertained as it builds steam though, with snippets into the daily lives of the monks/students in this intellectual 'monastary'. Once it gets going, this book has everything: Humour, romance, tragedy, and suspense. You'll laugh at the intellectual jabs the characters take at each-other, your heart will race as they scramble across the globe looking for the answers they need to save their world, you'll weep openly at the death of a brave and brilliant teacher, scratch your head in confusion at the forking of quantum cosmoses, and finally cheer in triumph at the happy ending. I would read this book again; and really, this is the sort of book one does read again. The world is so deep and layered, and the plot just twisted enough, that a second read is likely to bring further perspective. On a final note, if you like aesthetically pleasing books, buy the hardcover. It's absolutely beautiful with its dust-jacket off.
Title: Anathem
Author:Neal Stephenson
Publisher:William Morrow (c)2008
Genre: Science Fiction
Turq's rating: 4 out of 4 corner-chewings
Favorite quote: "I'd have become a Deolater and gone on a pilgrimage of any length to find a magic bath that would wash away the mess I'd just made."
Summary:
A world where intellectuals are hidden in 'monastaries', isolated from the general populace. Perhaps for their own protection, perhaps for other reasons. A young 'monk', a student of logic and semantics, becomes caught in the adventure of a lifetime, when his teacher sees -something- in a telescope. That something turns out to threaten his way of life, his relationships, and perhaps his entire world.
Detailed Review:
Neal Stephenson once again shows why he's a great storyteller. He weaves a world that is in some ways completely alien, but makes it seem comfortable and familiar. The text is smattered with words of an invented language that reminds one of Latin, but it seems second-nature after a chapter or so, serving to lend to the book's monastic intellectual feel. Unlike, say, 'A Clockwork Orange', I quickly picked the meanings of the words up via context, and didn't find myself diving for the glossary. Some of the more important terms are defined in footnotes and such anyway. The story itself, following a 'monk' named Erasmus, builds rather slowly. The book manages to keep you entertained as it builds steam though, with snippets into the daily lives of the monks/students in this intellectual 'monastary'. Once it gets going, this book has everything: Humour, romance, tragedy, and suspense. You'll laugh at the intellectual jabs the characters take at each-other, your heart will race as they scramble across the globe looking for the answers they need to save their world, you'll weep openly at the death of a brave and brilliant teacher, scratch your head in confusion at the forking of quantum cosmoses, and finally cheer in triumph at the happy ending. I would read this book again; and really, this is the sort of book one does read again. The world is so deep and layered, and the plot just twisted enough, that a second read is likely to bring further perspective. On a final note, if you like aesthetically pleasing books, buy the hardcover. It's absolutely beautiful with its dust-jacket off.