bee26's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
ahlakes's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This book is 1008 pages. It is a TOME. The plot moves at a snails pace, no character gets meaningfully developed, a lot of the philosophy and science is interesting but surface level. This book was a real slog, and as soon as the really interesting stuff starts happening the book ends.
So with all that said I couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed it. Probably will read it again.
So with all that said I couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed it. Probably will read it again.
gregtatum's review against another edition
4.0
Another fun read by Mr. Stephenson. It made my imagination very happy.
rook166's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
jen_nicole's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
library_bookwyrm's review against another edition
5.0
Stephenson, in case you didn't know this yet, is brilliant. Anathem is set in a world I would very much like to visit, although it is far from perfect. Society is divided between the monastic Avouts - philosophers and mathematicians living ascetic lives devoted to pure intellectual endeavor - and the Extramuros - the world outside the walls of the cloisters. It is a system that has served well for thousands of years - but something is about to shake that system to its very core.
The story takes the reader around and out of a world Stephenson has thoroughly and beautifully crafted, while engaging in very complex philosophical conversation that entranced me. Of course, I'm extremely interested in certain metaphysical questions - including problems of consciousness and the nature of reality. While the sci-fi aspect of the story is bound to appeal to many readers, the book is not recommended for anyone looking for a quick, action-filled space opera. It's a heavy book, thought-provoking and requiring some pretty intense focus. Highly recommended for those who are interested in an intersection of sci-fi and philosophy!
The story takes the reader around and out of a world Stephenson has thoroughly and beautifully crafted, while engaging in very complex philosophical conversation that entranced me. Of course, I'm extremely interested in certain metaphysical questions - including problems of consciousness and the nature of reality. While the sci-fi aspect of the story is bound to appeal to many readers, the book is not recommended for anyone looking for a quick, action-filled space opera. It's a heavy book, thought-provoking and requiring some pretty intense focus. Highly recommended for those who are interested in an intersection of sci-fi and philosophy!
ohio_enthusiast's review against another edition
Couldn't get myself to read the world building
wagmore's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of those books that you don't think of as fiction--you think of it as a glimpse that the author somehow got of an alternate universe and then managed to write down for those of us in this universe. .
The characters are so fully developed, and the book is so long, that you feel as if you've been living with new friends that you hate to leave behind when the book ends.
I've read a few other reviews where other readers complained about the heavy use of neologisms in this book. It's true that it can slow things down a bit for the first, say, 100 pages--until you get in the flow of the story. Don't let that put you off--the story ends up being well worth doing a little work.
Good read!
Spoiler
get it?The characters are so fully developed, and the book is so long, that you feel as if you've been living with new friends that you hate to leave behind when the book ends.
I've read a few other reviews where other readers complained about the heavy use of neologisms in this book. It's true that it can slow things down a bit for the first, say, 100 pages--until you get in the flow of the story. Don't let that put you off--the story ends up being well worth doing a little work.
Good read!