Comments on: Initial Thoughts About “Anathem” http://spoonyexperiment.com/2009/01/12/initial-thoughts-about-anathem/ Because bad movies and games deserve to be hurt back! Mon, 21 May 2012 09:10:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: f f http://spoonyexperiment.com/2009/01/12/initial-thoughts-about-anathem/#comment-170442 f f Tue, 14 Jun 2011 19:58:00 +0000 http://www.spoonyexperiment.com/?p=566#comment-170442 Neal started with punchy sentence fragments and writing meant for a comic in Snow Crash. Each of his books became more bombastic than the last. I read the last book of the Baroque Cycle and liked it. Then I tried to read the first book in the trilogy which starts with a completely unnatural conversation between a man just-arrived-in-America and a boy about European political figures. It was clear to me Neal had done alot of research for this book and found the subject-matter thoroughly interesting. It wasn't clear to Neil that he should spread this information throughout the book where needed instead of thinking someone's going to memorize all the characters at the start like he's cramming for a test.  My advice for reading Neal is if you don't find a paragraph entertaining: skip it. Alot of his writing is just revelry in the wordplay of storytelling. So if you enjoy the speech it's fun to listen and if you can suspend the long sentences in your mind there's often a punchline to reward you. I enjoyed Anathema more than the baroque cycle. The whole book is building to the real gem which's a metaphysical conception of consciousness unwrapped in the last part of the book and demonstrated in the final chapters. It's really cool and I found it worth the parts where the book drags. For once, the ending of a Neal Stephenson book's the best part.  Neal started with punchy sentence fragments and writing meant for a comic in Snow Crash. Each of his books became more bombastic than the last. I read the last book of the Baroque Cycle and liked it. Then I tried to read the first book in the trilogy which starts with a completely unnatural conversation between a man just-arrived-in-America and a boy about European political figures. It was clear to me Neal had done alot of research for this book and found the subject-matter thoroughly interesting. It wasn’t clear to Neil that he should spread this information throughout the book where needed instead of thinking someone’s going to memorize all the characters at the start like he’s cramming for a test. 

My advice for reading Neal is if you don’t find a paragraph entertaining: skip it. Alot of his writing is just revelry in the wordplay of storytelling. So if you enjoy the speech it’s fun to listen and if you can suspend the long sentences in your mind there’s often a punchline to reward you. I enjoyed Anathema more than the baroque cycle. The whole book is building to the real gem which’s a metaphysical conception of consciousness unwrapped in the last part of the book and demonstrated in the final chapters. It’s really cool and I found it worth the parts where the book drags. For once, the ending of a Neal Stephenson book’s the best part. 

]]> By: Xain6^3 http://spoonyexperiment.com/2009/01/12/initial-thoughts-about-anathem/#comment-2074 Xain6^3 Mon, 16 Feb 2009 23:34:49 +0000 http://www.spoonyexperiment.com/?p=566#comment-2074 a good reference for a book series that is 2000+ pages long is the "Sword of Truth" saga reasons 1. its got magic, sex, violence, and a guy who can make things blow up just by looking at them as the main character 2. it may be pulp, but its very creative within its cliches 3. from the wikipedia, "As of 2008, 25 million copies of the series' books have been sold worldwide, and the series has been translated into more than 20 languages. A television series adaptation of the novels, titled Legend of the Seeker, is currently being produced by ABC Studios and broadcast via syndication." nuff said a good reference for a book series that is 2000+ pages long is the “Sword of Truth” saga reasons
1. its got magic, sex, violence, and a guy who can make things blow up just by looking at them as the main character
2. it may be pulp, but its very creative within its cliches
3. from the wikipedia, “As of 2008, 25 million copies of the series’ books have been sold worldwide, and the series has been translated into more than 20 languages. A television series adaptation of the novels, titled Legend of the Seeker, is currently being produced by ABC Studios and broadcast via syndication.”
nuff said

]]> By: Xain6^3 http://spoonyexperiment.com/2009/01/12/initial-thoughts-about-anathem/#comment-77488 Xain6^3 Mon, 16 Feb 2009 23:34:00 +0000 http://www.spoonyexperiment.com/?p=566#comment-77488 a good reference for a book series that is 2000+ pages long is the "Sword of Truth" saga reasons 1. its got magic, sex, violence, and a guy who can make things blow up just by looking at them as the main character 2. it may be pulp, but its very creative within its cliches 3. from the wikipedia, "As of 2008, 25 million copies of the series' books have been sold worldwide, and the series has been translated into more than 20 languages. A television series adaptation of the novels, titled Legend of the Seeker, is currently being produced by ABC Studios and broadcast via syndication." nuff said a good reference for a book series that is 2000+ pages long is the “Sword of Truth” saga reasons
1. its got magic, sex, violence, and a guy who can make things blow up just by looking at them as the main character
2. it may be pulp, but its very creative within its cliches
3. from the wikipedia, “As of 2008, 25 million copies of the series’ books have been sold worldwide, and the series has been translated into more than 20 languages. A television series adaptation of the novels, titled Legend of the Seeker, is currently being produced by ABC Studios and broadcast via syndication.”
nuff said

]]> By: Xain6^3 http://spoonyexperiment.com/2009/01/12/initial-thoughts-about-anathem/#comment-77489 Xain6^3 Mon, 16 Feb 2009 23:34:00 +0000 http://www.spoonyexperiment.com/?p=566#comment-77489 a good reference for a book series that is 2000+ pages long is the "Sword of Truth" saga reasons 1. its got magic, sex, violence, and a guy who can make things blow up just by looking at them as the main character 2. it may be pulp, but its very creative within its cliches 3. from the wikipedia, "As of 2008, 25 million copies of the series' books have been sold worldwide, and the series has been translated into more than 20 languages. A television series adaptation of the novels, titled Legend of the Seeker, is currently being produced by ABC Studios and broadcast via syndication." nuff said a good reference for a book series that is 2000+ pages long is the “Sword of Truth” saga reasons
1. its got magic, sex, violence, and a guy who can make things blow up just by looking at them as the main character
2. it may be pulp, but its very creative within its cliches
3. from the wikipedia, “As of 2008, 25 million copies of the series’ books have been sold worldwide, and the series has been translated into more than 20 languages. A television series adaptation of the novels, titled Legend of the Seeker, is currently being produced by ABC Studios and broadcast via syndication.”
nuff said

]]> By: cm7 http://spoonyexperiment.com/2009/01/12/initial-thoughts-about-anathem/#comment-1727 cm7 Fri, 06 Feb 2009 22:53:47 +0000 http://www.spoonyexperiment.com/?p=566#comment-1727 Well, I'm reading it, english is not even my first lenguague and I can keep up with the futurespeak. But its true, it's not necesary to tell the story, and Stephenson editor needs to do his fucking work. Well, I’m reading it, english is not even my first lenguague and I can keep up with the futurespeak.

But its true, it’s not necesary to tell the story, and Stephenson editor needs to do his fucking work.

]]> By: cm7 http://spoonyexperiment.com/2009/01/12/initial-thoughts-about-anathem/#comment-77486 cm7 Fri, 06 Feb 2009 22:53:00 +0000 http://www.spoonyexperiment.com/?p=566#comment-77486 Well, I'm reading it, english is not even my first lenguague and I can keep up with the futurespeak. But its true, it's not necesary to tell the story, and Stephenson editor needs to do his fucking work. Well, I’m reading it, english is not even my first lenguague and I can keep up with the futurespeak.

But its true, it’s not necesary to tell the story, and Stephenson editor needs to do his fucking work.

]]> By: cm7 http://spoonyexperiment.com/2009/01/12/initial-thoughts-about-anathem/#comment-77487 cm7 Fri, 06 Feb 2009 22:53:00 +0000 http://www.spoonyexperiment.com/?p=566#comment-77487 Well, I'm reading it, english is not even my first lenguague and I can keep up with the futurespeak. But its true, it's not necesary to tell the story, and Stephenson editor needs to do his fucking work. Well, I’m reading it, english is not even my first lenguague and I can keep up with the futurespeak.

But its true, it’s not necesary to tell the story, and Stephenson editor needs to do his fucking work.

]]> By: Herbert West http://spoonyexperiment.com/2009/01/12/initial-thoughts-about-anathem/#comment-1265 Herbert West Tue, 27 Jan 2009 10:37:45 +0000 http://www.spoonyexperiment.com/?p=566#comment-1265 If you want an example of a long book/series with a zillion of themes and many "made up" (as in borrowed from arab, hebrew, and whatnot) words, I strongly suggest you try out thew Dune hexalogy from Frank Herbert. You can skip the last book (Chapterhouse:Dune), as it gets really pulp sometimes, but the rest have a very strong narrative/plot element, some that may not necessarily be evident in the first reading (examine Jesica's position towards her son in the first novel, for example), and tackle huge sociological themes. Read them, now:) Or for non-fiction (sort of, at least), I suggest Rushdie's The Satanic Verses/Last Sigh of the Moor (sic?). You can try and tackle "Midnights Children", but that suffers a bit from the "I want to tell everything" complex. Stephenson is a bit too overhyped for my taste. If you want an example of a long book/series with a zillion of themes and many “made up” (as in borrowed from arab, hebrew, and whatnot) words, I strongly suggest you try out thew Dune hexalogy from Frank Herbert. You can skip the last book (Chapterhouse:Dune), as it gets really pulp sometimes, but the rest have a very strong narrative/plot element, some that may not necessarily be evident in the first reading (examine Jesica’s position towards her son in the first novel, for example), and tackle huge sociological themes. Read them, now:)

Or for non-fiction (sort of, at least), I suggest Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses/Last Sigh of the Moor (sic?). You can try and tackle “Midnights Children”, but that suffers a bit from the “I want to tell everything” complex.

Stephenson is a bit too overhyped for my taste.

]]> By: Herbert West http://spoonyexperiment.com/2009/01/12/initial-thoughts-about-anathem/#comment-77484 Herbert West Tue, 27 Jan 2009 10:37:00 +0000 http://www.spoonyexperiment.com/?p=566#comment-77484 If you want an example of a long book/series with a zillion of themes and many "made up" (as in borrowed from arab, hebrew, and whatnot) words, I strongly suggest you try out thew Dune hexalogy from Frank Herbert. You can skip the last book (Chapterhouse:Dune), as it gets really pulp sometimes, but the rest have a very strong narrative/plot element, some that may not necessarily be evident in the first reading (examine Jesica's position towards her son in the first novel, for example), and tackle huge sociological themes. Read them, now:) Or for non-fiction (sort of, at least), I suggest Rushdie's The Satanic Verses/Last Sigh of the Moor (sic?). You can try and tackle "Midnights Children", but that suffers a bit from the "I want to tell everything" complex. Stephenson is a bit too overhyped for my taste. If you want an example of a long book/series with a zillion of themes and many “made up” (as in borrowed from arab, hebrew, and whatnot) words, I strongly suggest you try out thew Dune hexalogy from Frank Herbert. You can skip the last book (Chapterhouse:Dune), as it gets really pulp sometimes, but the rest have a very strong narrative/plot element, some that may not necessarily be evident in the first reading (examine Jesica’s position towards her son in the first novel, for example), and tackle huge sociological themes. Read them, now:)

Or for non-fiction (sort of, at least), I suggest Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses/Last Sigh of the Moor (sic?). You can try and tackle “Midnights Children”, but that suffers a bit from the “I want to tell everything” complex.

Stephenson is a bit too overhyped for my taste.

]]> By: Herbert West http://spoonyexperiment.com/2009/01/12/initial-thoughts-about-anathem/#comment-77485 Herbert West Tue, 27 Jan 2009 10:37:00 +0000 http://www.spoonyexperiment.com/?p=566#comment-77485 If you want an example of a long book/series with a zillion of themes and many "made up" (as in borrowed from arab, hebrew, and whatnot) words, I strongly suggest you try out thew Dune hexalogy from Frank Herbert. You can skip the last book (Chapterhouse:Dune), as it gets really pulp sometimes, but the rest have a very strong narrative/plot element, some that may not necessarily be evident in the first reading (examine Jesica's position towards her son in the first novel, for example), and tackle huge sociological themes. Read them, now:) Or for non-fiction (sort of, at least), I suggest Rushdie's The Satanic Verses/Last Sigh of the Moor (sic?). You can try and tackle "Midnights Children", but that suffers a bit from the "I want to tell everything" complex. Stephenson is a bit too overhyped for my taste. If you want an example of a long book/series with a zillion of themes and many “made up” (as in borrowed from arab, hebrew, and whatnot) words, I strongly suggest you try out thew Dune hexalogy from Frank Herbert. You can skip the last book (Chapterhouse:Dune), as it gets really pulp sometimes, but the rest have a very strong narrative/plot element, some that may not necessarily be evident in the first reading (examine Jesica’s position towards her son in the first novel, for example), and tackle huge sociological themes. Read them, now:)

Or for non-fiction (sort of, at least), I suggest Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses/Last Sigh of the Moor (sic?). You can try and tackle “Midnights Children”, but that suffers a bit from the “I want to tell everything” complex.

Stephenson is a bit too overhyped for my taste.

]]>