Anathem

[AJP]

Has anyone else here read Anathem by Neal Stephenson? I just finished it a few days ago, and immediately started it over, because I was so fascinated and felt like I missed a lot the first time through (which I did, I'm discovering in re-reading). I haven't read anything else by this author. I've found that a lot of the (made-up) words in this book have wormed their way into my brain, along with the concepts written about. Weird.

[crittersmum]

Don't tell me anything!!! I'm getting it for Christmas, and I can hardly wait! I've read everything he's written and just can't get enough. His writing is unclassifiable. I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed it!

[Keeta]

It's on my to-read list. I LOVED Snowcrash and The Diamond Age. My DH loved his Baroque Cycle and Cryptonomicon. We bought Anathem and neither of us has read it yet. Sometime soon! It's such a doorstopper, it's a little intimidating.

[AJP]

Cool, when you both read it, I'd love to hear what you thought. It's really affected me, makes me want to read his other stuff.

[enkmom]

I looked it over at the library today, but the size intimidated me - I'm positive I couldn't get it read before I had to return it. I plan to borrow it after the holidays when I have more time to read.

[mwherbs]

well I listened to it- and then listened to it again and now having DH listen to it on the way to work. I really liked it but I have liked most of his stuff.. read them all. and because most haven't read it will say no more.

[mwherbs]

so how far have you gals gotten?
right now the bigger ah ha piece for me was the physicality of thinking--

[crittersmum]

Just started and am loving it! However since I've got about 15 minutes a day to read I think I'm going to be finishing it when I'm 180! I'm not giving any plotlines away by saying I loved his definition of "bulshytt" -- definitely the authour slipping in a few opinions there!

[AJP]

I'm about 3/4 of the way through it for the second time. One thing striking me is the similarity between the Hylean Theoric World theory in the book, and something that was in science news lately, the possibility that we and everything we know are holograms. http://www.newscientist.com/article/...-hologram.html So I'm reading it with that image in my head, of the HTW as the place from which all these holograms are projected.

Anyway, I'm enjoying it just as much the second time.

[AJP]

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Finished it for the second time. This one goes on my favorite fiction list for sure, right up there with Tolkein and L'Engle.

I'm thinking I need to start The Baroque Cycle next.

[crittersmum]

Anathem and a reference to a classic 80's movie...you've won my heart, Valentine!

Finished! Loved it! I'm sitting there devouring this book and every time I would surface for air I'd think, "I'm reading paragraphs and paragraphs featuring some of the most convoluted and complicated physics-approaching-metaphysics that's out there...and I'm enjoying it!"

I was cruising the web for the authour's notes and found a trailer. I almost had a heart attack from ecstasy thinking that they were gonna' make a movie out of it but -- strange to say -- it was a trailer for the book!

Have fun with the Baroque Cycle! Maybe I'll go through them again and we can get a mutual support group going. I don't think his peregrine style of writing has ever been more apparent than in those three books. He takes you by the hand and you happily wander up and down alleys of thought...enjoy the journey!

[AJP]

Originally Posted by crittersmum

Anathem and a reference to a classic 80's movie...you've won my heart, Valentine!

I'm afraid certain 80s movies occupy a bit too much of my personal RAM.

I was reading the negative reviews of Quicksilver (pt. 1 of The Baroque Cycle) on Amazon, trying to figure out if I would find it as frustrating as those who gave it one star, before I bother taking the time to delve into it. In your opinion, how similar is the structure of the storytelling in The Baroque Cycle to Anathem? I enjoyed the intricate detail and his methods of illuminating philosophical/scientific/mathic (love that word) theory, but see how it could also get out of control or wander too far from the plot to keep me going. That seemed like the major complaint of the negative reviewers of Quicksilver, too much mind-numbing, repetitive, intricate detail that didn't resolve into anything that moved the plot forward. Some things require a great deal of detail, and I have a reasonably long attention span, but I don't have a lot of time to read, being a SAH, homeschooling mom, and unless the kids are asleep I get interrupted approximately every 12 seconds. So I read at bedtime, and that makes me stay up too late when the book is impossible to put down. Anathem kept me awake much too late many nights.

I got excited when I saw that trailer, too, but then I came to my senses and was glad it was just to promote the book. I think it would be nearly impossible to make it into a movie that was even vaguely satisfying, it would have to be 20 hours long to do it any kind of justice. (And none of the actors used in the trailer look anything at all like how I picture the characters in my head.)

[crittersmum]

I think the structure of Anathem and his other one-book novels (except, perhaps, for Cryptonomicon) is more straightforward narratively; the Baroque Cycle meanders a lot more. I didn't find it either mind-numbing or repetitive and I agree that not everything that was included advanced the plot. Honestly, I think if you're reading for plot, you're going to be crawling the walls -- this is not Dan Brown or Sidney Sheldon! -- but if you can relax and enjoy the ride through the authour's extraordinary mind, I think you'll love it. I think the trilogy is also a lot more densely written. Unless you pace yourself, I fear for your poor children with their Zombie Mommy from weeks and weeks of late nights reading!

You're right about a movie, of course. I was kind of delighted and terrified at the same time, but ended up being relieved that it was just a trailer for the book.

[AJP]

Thanks. I'll give The Baroque Cycle a whirl at some point.

Part of what I like about Anathem is the realistic complexity of the world he created, simultaneously familiar and intriguing. I wasn't always so much reading to have the plot unfold, as I was to just experience more of Arbre. The philosophical connections to Earth are artfully crafted. I've always found the idea of alternate realities fascinating, and this book explores it in ways new to me.