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Anathem

By Neal Stephenson

(66)

| Hardcover | 9780061474095

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Book Description

Fraa Erasmas is a young avout living in the Concent of Saunt Edhar, a sanctuary for mathematicians, scientists, and philosophers, protected from the corrupting influences of the outside "saecular" world by ancient stone, honored traditions, and complex rituals. Over the centuries, cities and governmContinue

Fraa Erasmas is a young avout living in the Concent of Saunt Edhar, a sanctuary for mathematicians, scientists, and philosophers, protected from the corrupting influences of the outside "saecular" world by ancient stone, honored traditions, and complex rituals. Over the centuries, cities and governments have risen and fallen beyond the concent's walls. Three times during history's darkest epochs violence born of superstition and ignorance has invaded and devastated the cloistered mathic community. Yet the avout have always managed to adapt in the wake of catastrophe, becoming out of necessity even more austere and less dependent on technology and material things. And Erasmas has no fear of the outside—the Extramuros—for the last of the terrible times was long, long ago.

Now, in celebration of the week-long, once-in-a-decade rite of Apert, the fraas and suurs prepare to venture beyond the concent's gates—at the same time opening them wide to welcome the curious "extras" in. During his first Apert as a fraa, Erasmas eagerly anticipates reconnecting with the landmarks and family he hasn't seen since he was "collected." But before the week is out, both the existence he abandoned and the one he embraced will stand poised on the brink of cataclysmic change.

Powerful unforeseen forces jeopardize the peaceful stability of mathic life and the established ennui of the Extramuros—a threat that only an unsteady alliance of saecular and avout can oppose—as, one by one, Erasmas and his colleagues, teachers, and friends are summoned forth from the safety of the concent in hopes of warding off global disaster. Suddenly burdened with a staggering responsibility, Erasmas finds himself a major player in a drama that will determine the future of his world—as he sets out on an extraordinary odyssey that will carry him to the most dangerous, inhospitable corners of the planet . . . and beyond.

Critics

  • Anathem. Il nuovo cielo

    La trama e le recensioni di "Anathem. Il nuovo cielo", romanzo di Neal Stephenson edito da Rizzoli. Il mondo in cui è cresciuto il giovane Erasmas non esiste più. Tutto è cambiato nel corso delle avventure vissute nel primo volume della saga di Anath ... (read full critics)

    Qlibri published on Tue, 30 Nov 2010

  • Anathem. Il pellegrino

    La trama e le recensioni di "Anathem. Il pellegrino", romanzo di Neal Stephenson edito da Rizzoli. È l’anno 3689 e il pianeta Arbre vive un periodo di pace e serenità. Nel suo passato ci sono imperi, colpi di stato militari, gli Eventi Tragici e la R ... (read full critics)

    Qlibri published on Mon, 29 Nov 2010

5 Reviews

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  • 1 person find this helpful

    This is an excellent book, but be warned: it's deeply phylosophical. So don't expect a fast-paced novel. Anathem is all about knowledge, and actually about epysthemology, without mentioning the word once.

    Is this helpful?

    Raistlin said on Nov 22, 2009 about the Mass Market Paperback edition | Add your feedback

  • amazing

    One of the best books i've read in the last few years.
    A very complex and entertaining story, set in an amazingly deep new world. A lot of attention as been put in the fleshing out of interesting characters.

    It sets your mind on and makes you think and ponder on really exotic concepts.

    A must re ... (continue)

    One of the best books i've read in the last few years.
    A very complex and entertaining story, set in an amazingly deep new world. A lot of attention as been put in the fleshing out of interesting characters.

    It sets your mind on and makes you think and ponder on really exotic concepts.

    A must read, unless you hate sci-fi as a whole.

    Is this helpful?

    Echomrg said on Dec 4, 2011 | Add your feedback

  • If you're interested in alternative reality SF

    Of all Neal Stephenson's books Anathem is the most difficult to read. There is less story and more dialogs about ideas. So, if you like a mesh of ideas about possible worlds, alternative realities, and the mind, with a fairly likeable science fiction story, you probably want to read this. If ... (continue)

    Of all Neal Stephenson's books Anathem is the most difficult to read. There is less story and more dialogs about ideas. So, if you like a mesh of ideas about possible worlds, alternative realities, and the mind, with a fairly likeable science fiction story, you probably want to read this. If not, stay away from this book, because you will not see it through its vast 890 pages.

    I started to enjoy this book after page 200 or so, because in the first part of the book you get introduced to a different world (than Earth), with a somewhat different language (a dictionary is added at the end). It took a some effort to get all this. But after that it was fun!
    Imagine a world (Arbre) where theors (theoretical scientists / philosophers) think up a polycosmic theory and one day the 'aliens' from different cosmi show up. One of the alien races comes from Earth. The rest is intergalactic politics and warfare.

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    Corstin said on Mar 16, 2011 | Add your feedback

  • excellent book

    I really loved this book. It has an interesting plot, with a well thought out world and metaphysics.

    Is this helpful?

    Frank Visser said on Feb 23, 2010 | Add your feedback

Book Details

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9780061474095 Hardcover $29.95 $25.60 bn.com
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