5 ms·

I already thought that Anathem was way more accessible than previous works. I recall reading in Cryptonomicon two pages of some strange event before realizing h

I already thought that Anathem was way more accessible than previous works. I recall reading in Cryptonomicon two pages of some strange event before realizing he was showing us a different view of the Hindenburg disaster. I can't think of any example in Anathem where it wasn't immediately clear to me what he was trying to show. On the other hand, if Stephenson has a fault as a writer, it's the way he writes books' endings. The ends of Snow Crash or Diamond Age were just a mess. He skirted that in Cryptonomicon by just not really having an ending. I confess to not having been able to make it to the end of The Baroque Cycle, so I can't say. But then Anathem had a real, if rather out-of-left-field, ending. So I think that while he may be trending toward greater accessibility, he's also trending to writing better endings.

joeyh 15y ago
Anathem's first few chapters require the reader to learn about 100 made-up words via immersion. Throughout the book major points hinge on various scientific and philosophic theories, which are given different names (like Hylaean Theoric World) than they are on earth. So no, not really that accessible. This review for REAMDE is the first Stephenson review I've seen that didn't pan the climax, which might say something. BTW, did you notice that REAMDE is designed to make unix people's eyes cross?
- CWuestefeld 15y ago
  Anathem's first few chapters require the reader to learn about 100 made-up words via immersion. True enough, but that's quite common in science fiction. scientific and philosophic theories, which are given different names (like Hylaean Theoric World) That's also true. But if you're already familiar with the concept, then the nomenclature shouldn't bother you too much (it didn't me). If you're not already familiar with it, then you won't know it's any different (until you're at a dinner party trying to talk philosophy with someone, and are met with blank stares).

joeyh 15y ago

Anathem's first few chapters require the reader to learn about 100 made-up words via immersion. Throughout the book major points hinge on various scientific and philosophic theories, which are given different names (like Hylaean Theoric World) than they are on earth. So no, not really that accessible. This review for REAMDE is the first Stephenson review I've seen that didn't pan the climax, which might say something. BTW, did you notice that REAMDE is designed to make unix people's eyes cross?

CWuestefeld 15y ago
Anathem's first few chapters require the reader to learn about 100 made-up words via immersion. True enough, but that's quite common in science fiction. scientific and philosophic theories, which are given different names (like Hylaean Theoric World) That's also true. But if you're already familiar with the concept, then the nomenclature shouldn't bother you too much (it didn't me). If you're not already familiar with it, then you won't know it's any different (until you're at a dinner party trying to talk philosophy with someone, and are met with blank stares).