Anathem (P.S.)

by Neal Stephenson

Erasmas, 'Raz', is a young avout living in the Concent, a sanctuary for mathematicians, scientists, and philosophers. Three times during history's darkest epochs, violence has invaded and devastated the cloistered community. Yet the avout have always managed to adapt in the wake of catastrophe.

But they now prepare to open the Concent's gates to the outside world, in celebration of a once-a-decade rite. Suddenly, 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.

• ISBN10: 1843549174
• ISBN13: 9781843549178
• Publish Date: 1 October 2009 (first published 1 September 2008)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Atlantic Books
• Edition: Main
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 1008
• Language: English

Reviews

Simply amazing. Neal Stephenson reaffirms his status as my favorite author. I haven't read a better book this year (or maybe even last year).

[adamfortuna]

On an episode of the Think Relevance Podcast, a book was mentioned where monk chants were used to convey and solve mathematical problems. That was the first I’d heard of Neal Stephenson, and knew I had to check it out. The Anathem world is different from our own. It’s a world where scientists and mathematicians live in the equivalent of buddhist monasteries with limited access to the outside world — some only interacting with it every 100 years. The abundance of made up terminology takes some getting used to in this book, but it’s worth the ride.