Heh

[yendi]

If you want to know why I still haven't read Anathem, read this post by Adam Roberts. And this one by felisdemens.

(Also, reviewing for PW meant that a good chunk of my last year was spent on books I was being paid to read, which made me even pickier about what I spent my free time reading.)

Comments

[mgrasso.livejournal.com]

*shrug* I dunno, to each his or her own, but I loved all the neologisms in Anathem. Maybe it's just the language geek in me but I thought they were pretty cleverly crafted to be almost, but not quite, entirely unlike English. That being said, the Adam Roberts review is pretty awesome. :)

[yendi]

I'm perpetually mixed on neologisms. I love them (as a language geek), but only when they seem to flow naturally. I tend to hate the "the grignor chewed its cud" style of avoiding using "cow," which is a large part of what NS seems to do. I do know that words spring up (go back to 1945 and see what happens when you ask folks about fax, the internet, or whatnot), but I find too many neologisms to be as interesting as too many foreign words; if I have to step back to figure out what's being discussed (instead of getting everything from context), I'm reminded that I'm reading a book, and not in a good way.

Roberts himself played with this in Gradisil, focusing more on changing grammar and syntax, which has always struck me as more interesting (and harder to convey).

[ex-yakaveng.livejournal.com]

Well, how would you compare Anathem-like neologisms to A Clockwork Orange? I always felt ACO works, but Anathem really does not.

[montykins.livejournal.com]

I think Anathem might be Stephenson's best book. There's a reason for the neologisms, but it doesn't happen until page 750 or something.

Having said that, life's too short to read books for entertainment if you don't find them entertaining. I wouldn't have read it if I hadn't had a Kindle and a really long plane ride.

[ex-yakaveng.livejournal.com]

I won't get started on Anathem-- I had a hard time getting into Snow Crash, and Anathem... pleh. Well, I toughed it out. I don't think it added much new to the genre, and the slight twists on the words and society wasn't enough for me.

Oh! Someone was looking for more people to review for PW, yes? Was it you? I have an excellent candidate-- film and media studies grad student who is capable of writing clearly and concisely.