A review by library_bookwyrm
Anathem, by Neal Stephenson
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!