Book Review: Anathem

Usually, I start a book and then drop it for months and months before I finish it. Social pressure was the trick to get me to finish Neal Stephenson's Anathem sooner. My b-i-l Jon and I started the book together on opening weekend, and then he finished it way, way ahead of me. So while he was on vacation, I read the other 900 pages.

Which is better, right? That's better?

The Short Version: On an alternate Earth, mathematicians cloister themselves so they can get more math done. Then the very concept of cloistering is called into question.

My Take: As I write this, I find myself reviewing the author more than the book. I liked Anathem. I'd recommend it. But it's middle-of-the-pack Stephenson.

He seems to have good story reasons to avoid starting the plot for 200 pages. But I would have liked to visit the cosmos where he didn't take so long.

I didn't experience the white-knuckle effect of Cryptonomicon here, but once I invested myself in the project, it was easy to keep reading. For such a cerebral writer, Stephenson knows how to move a story along.

I understand that people have commented on an anti-religion bias in the book, but these are people with agendas. I have not found another non-religious science-fiction writer who is as clear thinking and composed when writing religion into his or her stories.

The science and mathematical-style thinking are interesting and fun, but not required to follow the tale. However, if you don't enjoy brainy reading, it's probably not worth it just for the story.