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I don't think Anathem had a good ending per-se; rather the whole novel sets up a gimmick revealed at the end that explains away the lack of a good ending. It's
by MichaelCollins 4y ago
I don't think Anathem had a good ending per-se; rather the whole novel sets up a gimmick revealed at the end that explains away the lack of a good ending.
It's still my favorite Stephenson novel though.
- sdwr 4y agoYeah, first half of Anathem was captivating, second half went off the rails.
- wizofaus 4y agoGoing by the comments on this thread, it's hard to believe everyone's talking about the same book... (which I haven't read, and I'm now torn as to whether I should!)
- sdwr 4y agoYeah it's wild! Second-guessed myself a tiny bit after seeing all the conflicting views. Minor spoilers: I loved the world-building and mystery in the first half, the main character lives in a post-apoc monastary, tons of great details and tidbits. It felt vibrant, deep, reminded me of Redwall and the 5th Harry Potter, with the sexual repression and small-scale rebellion against authority. He leaves the walls in the second half and stuff happens, I forgot most of it. The journey part felt like an afterthought. Something something aliens, really didn't feel earned or connected.
- noSyncCloud 4y agoIt's doesn't go "off the rails" at all, it completely and satisfactorily explains everything. It goes fast but it's good. I highly recommend it. You won't want to miss the worldbuilding, it's absolutely incredible.
- majormajor 4y agoI'm not sure "the whole novel sets up" and "gimmick" work together there. :)
- MichaelCollins 4y agoI think a well set up gimmick is still a gimmick. And I think probably for the first two thirds of the book at least, the reader will have no clue what's coming even though it's being set up. Anyway I do like the book, but the ending wraps up very abruptly thanks to the employment of this gimmick.