(no subject)

[mamculuna]

Thanks to Jerekeys (our old Tyreseus), here's a game you can play if you haven't yet watched the VP debate.

I'm about halfway into Anathem, the new Neal Stephenson novel. It's wonderful--truly science fiction with a vengeance(or maybe it should be called theory fiction); great characters; and so far, a straightforward, focused plotline--although I loved the complexity of the Baroque Cycle. Also has a Wiki rather than pages of footnotes. I'm looking forward to hearing what other people think about it when I finish.

Comments

[buffyannotater.livejournal.com]

I'd love to hear what you thought of the Baroque Cycle. I've had a copy of all 3 books for over a year now, but they've always seemed too daunting to approach.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

I was daunted by BC for quite some time, too. If you haven't read Stephenson before, start with this new one or go back to Diamond Age or Snowcrash--they're a lot more accessible. I never did get into Cryptonomicon--seemed like imitation Pynchon to me, while all NS's other books are totally original.

I love historical stuff, so BC was perfect for me. The 17th century in particular is fascinating in so many ways, but there are a lot of characters and plots to keep up with. As I'm saying to CW below, coming to closure with a story is not Stephenson's strong point--you may find that the novels leave you with some questions. But I'm not frustrated by that--his worlds are so amazing and his characters so intriguing that I'm happy just to read.

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

Tell us how you like it when you are done. I thought Cryptonomicon was well written, but I didn't think much of the story when I was finished.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

I have to say that NS's other novels have not seemed to have satisfying plots that led to a good conclusion that seemed inevitable in hindsite but not predictable. They got complicated, and I have trouble even remembering exactly how they ended. And Cryptonomicon is the one I couldn't get into (too much like Pynchon, somehow--I love Pynchon, but not imitations of him).

The others, though, both the early ones and Baroque Cycle, and so far this one, are such pleasures while I'm reading them, with the weird worlds, bizarre but sympathetic characters, funny stuff, intellectual puzzles, etc., etc. I don't regret the lack of the strong ending, but I can see how they'd be frustrating. NS is one of those writers that some of us love and others don't, and I can see the problems that turn some people off.

This one intrigued me from the title on, but for the first 25 or more pages, I was clueless about the situation. Gradually it made sense.

I'll report when done!