Anathem - Couverture rigide

Stephenson, Neal

Couverture rigide

ISBN 10 : 0061474096 ISBN 13 : 9780061474095

Editeur : William Morrow, 2008

Synopsis

Book by Stephenson Neal

A propos du livre

Quatrième de couverture :

Anathem, the latest invention by the New York Times bestselling author of Cryptonomicon and The Baroque Cycle, is a magnificent creation: a work of great scope, intelligence, and imagination that ushers readers into a recognizable—yet strangely inverted—world.

Fraa Erasmas 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 outside "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 violence born of superstition and ignorance has invaded and devastated the cloistered mathic community. Yet the avout have always managed to adapt in the wake of catastrophe, becoming out of necessity even more austere and less dependent on technology and material things. And Erasmas 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 fraas and suurs prepare to venture beyond the concent's gates—at the same time opening them wide to welcome the curious "extras" in. During his first Apert as a fraa, Erasmas 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 brink of cataclysmic change.

Powerful unforeseen forces jeopardize 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, Erasmas and his colleagues, teachers, and friends are summoned forth from the safety of the concent in hopes of warding off global disaster. Suddenly burdened with a staggering responsibility, 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.

Revue de presse :

“Reading Anathem is a humbling experience.” (Washington Post on ANATHEM)

“A sprawling disquisition...[a] logophilic treat for those who like their alternate worlds big, parodic and ironic.” (Kirkus Reviews on ANATHEM)

“Stephenson’s expansive storytelling echoes Walter Miller’s classic A Canticle for Leibowitz, the space operas of Larry Niven and the cultural meditations of Douglas Hofstadter – a heady mix of antecedents that makes for long stretches of dazzling entertainment.” (Publishers Weekly on ANATHEM)

“A magnificent achievement. ” (Booklist (starred review) on ANATHEM)

“Clever and intricate...truly ingenious...it’s brilliance is undeniable.” (Locus, Gary K. Wolfe on ANATHEM)

“A masterpiece...mind-bogglingly ambitious...readers will delight in puzzling out the historical antecedents in philosophy, science, mathematics, and art that Stephenson riffs on with his customary quicklsilver genius...it’s one of the most thought-provoking novels I’ve ever read, and also one of the most engaging.” (Locus, Paul Witcover, on ANATHEM)

“The Seattle writer is kind of a cross between William Gibson and Richard Powers, hard-wired to tell stories, explore technology and riff on anything that catches his fancy.” (The Oregonian (Portland) on ANATHEM)

“[O]ne of Stephenson’s best novels...a captivating blend of culture clash, deductive reasoning and pure action.” (Columbus Dispatch on ANATHEM)

“What ever happened to the great novel of ideas? It has morphed into science fiction, and Stephenson is its foremost practitioner. A-” (Time magazine on ANATHEM)

“[R]iveting idea porn.” (Details on ANATHEM)

À propos de cette édition

• Éditeur: William Morrow
• Date d'édition: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0061474096
• ISBN 13: 9780061474095
• Reliure: Relié
• Numéro d'édition: 1
• Nombre de pages: 960