Neal Stephenson Returns with "Anathem"

Lev Grossman writes to tell us that Neal Stephenson, author of greats like Snow Crash and Cryptonomicon, has another novel due for release in September. The catalogue copy gives us a small glimpse at what may be in store: "Since childhood, Raz has lived behind the walls of a 3,400-year-old monastery, a sanctuary for scientists, philosophers, and mathematicians--sealed off from the illiterate, irrational, unpredictable 'saecular' world that is plagued by recurring cycles of booms and busts, world wars and climate change. Until the day that a higher power, driven by fear, decides that only these cloistered scholars have the abilities to avert an impending catastrophe. And, one by one, Raz and his cohorts are summoned forth without warning into the Unknown."

Comments

Yay, ambivalence!

[TrebleJunkie]

At the risk of my pending crucifixion, Stephenson's "Cryptonomicon" was the first and only rather expensive hardbook book I've ever tossed in the trash. And at only about 30 pages in. Gah, what awful stuff. It was like drinking urine: Something you don't do twice unless you're not right in the head.