In Anathem, Stephenson sets his story in the world of Arbre, a place with a long history that mirrors our own in some ways. The story begins in a monastery, but one difference from our world immediately stands out -the monastery is not religious, but dedicated to the study of science and philosophy. Those practicing here have been segregated from the outside world, an arrangement with a twofold purpose: while those within are protected and allowed to concentrate on their study without distraction, their power is simultaneously limited and the rate of change that new technologies can bring is controlled. The past history of Arbre was punctuated by cataclysms brought on by new technology, and fear of repeating past mistakes has lead to this unusual arrangement. Monasteries are divided into sections that open to the outside world once every year, every ten years, every hundred years, and every thousand years.Erasmas is a young monk who belongs to the “tenners”. At the beginning of the book the time of the next ten-year opening is about to arrive, the first time he has seen the outside world since he entered the monastery. However, he receives hints that something unprecedented is going on. Visitors from the inquisition have locked up the monastery’s observatory - the sky contains information that is currently forbidden the monks. Shortly after this, many monks are called out of the monastery by world leaders to help face the threat from the sky. Erasmas and his friends will have a key part to play in what follows. Stephenson has written a very ambitious science fiction novel full of a love of ideas and their implications - the story does not always make for fast reading, but it is always fascinating.
Recommended for those who like philosophical novels like Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose and lovers of dense science fiction epics.
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