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Anathem
- Narrated by: Oliver Wyman, Tavia Gilbert, William Dufris, Neal Stephenson
- Length: 32 hrs and 25 mins
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Anathem
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Summary
Fraa Erasmus 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 "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, bloody violence born of superstition and ignorance has invaded and devastated the cloistered mathic community. Yet always the avout have managed to adapt in the wake of catastrophe, becoming out of necessity more austere and less dependent on technology and material things. Erasmus, however, 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 fras and suurs prepare to venture outside the concent's gates - opening them wide at the same time to welcome the curious "extras" in.
During his first Apert as a fra, Erasmus 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 perilous brink of cataclysmic change.
Powerful unforeseen forces threaten 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, Raz's colleagues, teachers, and friends are all called forth from the safety of the concent in hopes of warding off global disaster.
Suddenly burdened with a worlds-shattering responsibility, Erasmus finds himself a major player in a drama that will determine the future of everything - as he sets out on an extraordinary odyssey that will carry him to the most dangerous, inhospitable corners of an unfamiliar planet...and far beyond.
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What listeners say about Anathem
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Zapadias
- 08-03-21
Er...
Perhaps because it was an audiobook and therefore moving along at a fair lick, but can’t help wondering what the whole thing was about. Again, probably me but struggled to differentiate some of the characters too. Would strongly recommend The Cryptonomicom or System of the World before this. For me, without doubt his best works.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- sophia monkman
- 16-07-16
The best of Neall Stephenson
Loved this, my favourite of his stories! Wonderful narrator.
A very complex and cohesive tale.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Daniel Suss
- 20-07-16
Immersive, detailed, compelling
Another satisfyingly dense and detailed world from Stephenson. One of the few writers capable of a good ending.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kindle Customer
- 10-02-19
Thought provokingly intense
Slow to start but gripping nonetheless. a mastery of philosophical thought and storytelling. This story manages to induce emotion and logical thought in equal measure asking you to further ask more questions about the mysteries inherent in the universe.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- MrCurve
- 19-06-20
Love this.
Love the story. The performance. Everything. I want to live in a Mathe on Arbe.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- GW
- 12-04-22
A slow start of incredible world building
Which builds up into an amazingly rich and captivating universe. Deeply philosophical and engaging, I found myself thinking about it throughout the day.
Excellent hard Sci fi. Another great title by Stephenson. Definitely worth the effort!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Stina
- 18-01-24
Amazing book
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it took many unexpected turns but kept the core vibe. It went over my head at times but that's okay, I still enjoyed it. Highly recommended!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anna Nym
- 24-11-21
my first sci-fi novel
... and I absolutely loved it. I usually read plot driven novels and thus struggled a bit with the world building in the beginning but it definitely paid off later in the story. I really loved the nerdy bits throughout. a great book with a gripping story and surprising u-turns. can definitely recommend
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Astrithir
- 23-07-17
Engrossing.
Tremendous frankly. You'll come away with a fresh appreciation for logic and rational thought. All of that wrapped in a compelling action adventure and scifi wonder!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- A. G. Carter
- 22-06-16
Amazing
Any additional comments?
One amazing flight of imagination - I finished it stunned - but note I did need to refer to a printed copy to check on details.
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