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I liked the premise for this book a lot. Cloistered, secluded intellectuals pursuing their research with very limited technology, no individual property rights, and no faith in transcendent entities - walled apart from the religious, consumerist and cell-phone-infested rest of the population. Yet their subsequent space exploration and their contact with creatures from parallel worlds (one of which is suspiciously similar to Earth) is not as satisfying as the premise. For a more fascinating sci-fi story in the "Jesuits meet Aliens" vein, read "The Sparrow" by Mary Doria Russell. If you are Stephenson fans, you have probably enjoyed "Cryptonomicon" more than you will enjoy this one. Nevertheless, a disciplined use of invented language and the invention of a rather interesting post-apocalyptic scenario were what kept me going through the end.Read full review
Neal posits a place of study that contains timed doors to the outside world. doors on "timers" that open every year, then one layer in every 10 years, and another layer in every 100 years, and in again to every 1000 years. no contct with the "beyond the door" until the door is opened! just that alone is a lovely thing to read about, then throw in individuals who live in this (really "these") closed off cloisters, rituals, science without input, and every time thedoor opens rush and update the library and share new findings with those deeper in, to (yup) ALIENS or wait are they? and are they nice? and atually what the hell are they anyway? and what are these cloistered scholars going to do about it? what CAN they do? oh its got more thn that of course, Mr. Stephenson knows how to tell a story and this epic experiment proves it once again. YAY for Neal! keep em comin!Read full review
All good thx
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
If people were smart, we would be Neal Stephenson. Maybe tomorrow.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned