It’s the title of the new book by Neal Stephenson. It’s brutally good. If I may speak in Nerd for a moment, it’s Cryptonomicon good. It is messing with my deadlines, cutting short my sleep, and generally fooling with my head. In other words, it’s available at your local bookstore now.
Posted by Paul Horwitz on September 21, 2008 at 09:55 PM
Comments
If the digression involves a highly detailed but also highly entertaining description of how to eat Captain Cruch properly and the hazards involved, or how to settle familial disputes over the distribution of a decedent’s estate by the use of x- and y-axes, I’m willing to go along for the ride. Although I think it takes about 70 pages for Cryptonomicon to really take off, and not everyone is willing to sit around that long.
Posted by: Paul Horwitz | Sep 21, 2008 11:22:09 PM
In some ways it’s better than Cryptonomicon; in some ways worse. But I agree with your assessment. I highly recommend two things to anyone considering reading Anathem. First, yes, you should read it. Second, learn as little as you can about it before you do.
Posted by: James Grimmelmann | Sep 21, 2008 10:48:31 PM
To some of us, “Cryptonomicon good” means “Eh, I’ll pass.” There’s only so much, “Hey, look at me digressing” I can take.
Posted by: Jason W. | Sep 21, 2008 10:37:59 PM