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A review by sambora
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
challenging
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I went back and forth on my opinion a bit whilst going through Anathem, but I eventually settled on it being a very well written story, that may be a little too sophisticated for my tastes, at least at the moment.
To clarify; I enjoy intelligent stories. I like reading and learning about science and philosophy. I can also fully appreciate Stephenson's ability the craft such clever characters and a plot that used their individual characteristics so effectively, but this book lost me in a few key places.
There were some truly amazing sequences, some complex but just about followable scenes, some very dry a tedious dialogues... You get it; this was a real mixed bag for me.
Two of the elements that I particularly enjoyed were the initial world-building as well as the use of language as world-building tool. What Stephenson does here with his etymology is a difficult thing to explain in so many words, but it's both rather meta and very impressive.
The story of Anathem... I liked? I question this deliberately because, again, I am afraid some of the nuances of the plot went over my head. There were multiple times that, whilst enjoying the immediate happenings and being fully engaged, I felt like I was somehow missing some key context, or that I had forgotten the reasons behind what the character were doing or reacting to. I'm not sure if this was simply me being somewhat dim, or if there were certain narrative signposts I was expecting to find where there were none.
I am aware my criticisms are very much based solely upon my personal understanding of the text, and I am certain that if a future version of me were to reread this, he would take a lot more away from it than I, and without a doubt follow the plot with a great deal more clarity and appreciation.
For now, an impressed but somewhat bewildered,3 stars.
I've read a few of Stephenson's book now, Snow Crash, The Diamond Age and Seveneves, (maybe more but I lose track) and this one is by far the most complex and intriguing of them all, and definitely the one to justify a reread the most.
To clarify; I enjoy intelligent stories. I like reading and learning about science and philosophy. I can also fully appreciate Stephenson's ability the craft such clever characters and a plot that used their individual characteristics so effectively, but this book lost me in a few key places.
There were some truly amazing sequences, some complex but just about followable scenes, some very dry a tedious dialogues... You get it; this was a real mixed bag for me.
Two of the elements that I particularly enjoyed were the initial world-building as well as the use of language as world-building tool. What Stephenson does here with his etymology is a difficult thing to explain in so many words, but it's both rather meta and very impressive.
The story of Anathem... I liked? I question this deliberately because, again, I am afraid some of the nuances of the plot went over my head. There were multiple times that, whilst enjoying the immediate happenings and being fully engaged, I felt like I was somehow missing some key context, or that I had forgotten the reasons behind what the character were doing or reacting to. I'm not sure if this was simply me being somewhat dim, or if there were certain narrative signposts I was expecting to find where there were none.
I am aware my criticisms are very much based solely upon my personal understanding of the text, and I am certain that if a future version of me were to reread this, he would take a lot more away from it than I, and without a doubt follow the plot with a great deal more clarity and appreciation.
For now, an impressed but somewhat bewildered,3 stars.
I've read a few of Stephenson's book now, Snow Crash, The Diamond Age and Seveneves, (maybe more but I lose track) and this one is by far the most complex and intriguing of them all, and definitely the one to justify a reread the most.