Identify Books Supposing Anathem
| Original Title: | Anathem |
| ISBN: | 0061474096 (ISBN13: 9780061474095) |
| Edition Language: | English URL http://www.nealstephenson.com/anathem/ |
| Characters: | Erasmas, Lio, Arsibalt, Jesry, Orolo, Tulia, Cord |
| Literary Awards: | Hugo Award Nominee for Best Novel (2009), Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel (2009), Arthur C. Clarke Award Nominee (2009), British Science Fiction Association Award Nominee for Best Novel (2008), John W. Campbell Award Nominee for Best Novel (2009) Endeavour Award Nominee (2009) |
Neal Stephenson
Hardcover | Pages: 937 pages Rating: 4.19 | 59131 Users | 4748 Reviews
Describe Out Of Books Anathem
| Title | : | Anathem |
| Author | : | Neal Stephenson |
| Book Format | : | Hardcover |
| Book Edition | : | First Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 937 pages |
| Published | : | September 9th 2008 by William Morrow |
| Categories | : | Science Fiction. Fiction. Fantasy |
Narration As Books Anathem
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.
Rating Out Of Books Anathem
Ratings: 4.19 From 59131 Users | 4748 ReviewsCritique Out Of Books Anathem
My first time reading Anathem was one of the most engrossing reading experiences I've ever had, in any genre. As a long-time Stepehenson fan, one could say I'm slightly biased. But, considering that I've now read this three times since it's been out, even though it's a 900+ page monstrosity, should tell you something. And I'm not one who normally rereads books.First off, I should mention that it definitely helps to have even a slight interest in the 'big questions,' such as the nature of"You can get a lot done in ten millennia if you put your mind to it..."- Neal Stephenson, Anathem I float now between 4 and 5 stars. Drift. Bounce. Return. I need to sleep, dream, and return to this later. Perhaps, my response will solidify in my sleep. Perhaps, later I'll find words, emotions, and rational responses to this big, ambitious, knot of a novel. Later.**Later**There are two reviews I want to write. The first follows the path which measures this novel by the volume of its output, the
Anathem: This book could be anathema to some readers Originally posted at Fantasy LiteratureAt one point do you admit defeat and give up on a book? Especially one that you really WANT to like, by an author whose work you respect, and has been lauded by critics and readers alike. Ive put off tacking Anathem for many years because: 1) its a massive door-stopper about an order of monks millennia in the future devoted to philosophy, science, and mathematic theorems; 2) its got an entirely new
Q:Do your neighbors burn one another alive? was how Fraa Orolo began his conversation with Artisan Flec ...Do your shamans walk around on stilts? ...Do you fancy you will see your dead dogs and cats in some sort of afterlife? (c)Q: Orolo had asked me along to serve as amanuensis. It was an impressive word, so Id said yes. (c)Q:My talent for envisioning things, and spinning yarns in my head, failed me that evening, as if it had gone on vacation. I could make no sense of my interview with
Anathem isn't an easy book, and it's not a quick read. Anathem, however, is very rewarding. A book I will definitely read a second time in a few years and then hopefully a third time, several years later. Neal Stephenson is obviously bursting with knowledge, and I had to look up the meaning of unknown words more than once. Cheers for expanding my vocabulary.The plot of Anathem takes place on a different planet than ours and Stephenson invented quite a few words to go with it. As a non native
There are a number of technical problems to writing sci-fi and fantasy. Chief among them is the tremendous amount of work required to set up a cultural matrix: a language, a history, an iconography, etc. that makes the world fully realized and engaging. In this new 900-page doorstop, Stephenson tries to solve this problem with approximately 200 pages of exposition, setting up the mindset of a post-apocalyptic monastery where you have religious scholarship without the religion (mostly). So you
4.5 stars. Another original, robust effort by Stephenson who is one of the best SF writers working today. Highly recommended. Winner: Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel (2009)Nominee: Arthur C. Clarke Award for Best Science Fiction Novel (2009)Nominee: John W. Campbell Award for Best Science Fiction Novel (2009)Nominee: Hugo Award for Best Science Fiction Novel (2009)Nominee: Britsh Science Fiction Award for Best Novel (2009)
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