Anathem by Neal Stephenson

xilman · 2015-11-06, 21:54

A superb take on monastic life and some profound philosophy to boot.

Had a significant influence on my thought processes.

chalsall · 2015-11-06, 22:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by xilman

A superb take on monastic life and some profound philosophy to boot.

Had a significant influence on my thought processes.

I have it in my bookcase.

I found it quite slow. A reasonable read, sure, but what did it actually teach us?

That's a serious question.

westicles · 2015-11-07, 08:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by chalsall

I have it in my bookcase.

I found it quite slow. A reasonable read, sure, but what did it actually teach us?

That's a serious question.

What did you expect to learn from a sci-fi book?

xilman · 2015-11-07, 10:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by chalsall

I have it in my bookcase.

I found it quite slow. A reasonable read, sure, but what did it actually teach us?

That's a serious question.

An interesting take on the multiverse idea, its sub-structure and conceptions of how, perhaps, information may or may not flow from one to another.

Exploration of the idea that consciousness can affect reality.

Insights into monasticism from a non-deistic perspective.

Like A Canticle for Leibowitz, reactions to and recovery from catastrophic application of scientifc knowledge and technological capability.

Did you also work through the calca? Worth doing, IMO.

kladner · 2015-11-07, 16:08

I, too, found Anathem slow, at first. Much of this involves the use of modified familiar words, or words with subtly changed meanings. A good deal of exposition is needed, both to lay out the structure of scientific monasticism, and to allow the mutated words and meanings to acquire context.

I expect to read it again, at some time, as I am sure more of the structure of the particular slice of the multiverse in which the story is set will become comprehensible.

I think it is well worth the effort to sort out the confusing parts. It is a novel (heh!) approach to elucidating some tricky ideas. At the risk of playing the spoiler, I will point out that there is a point at which the multiple realities start overlapping, and [U]the possibility of intentional human influence over the flux is developed.**
[/U]
**As Paul said, above.

davar55 · 2015-11-07, 16:20

I trust we can all distinguish science fiction, such as a multi-verse,
from actual science, which has to reject a concept that is utterly
impossible to ever verify and is in fact ... a contradiction to the
concept of the Universe. Semantics are not the issue, there is
no such thing as beyond the Universe. Much fun though.

xilman · 2015-11-07, 16:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by davar55

I trust we can all distinguish science fiction, such as a multi-verse,
from actual science, which has to reject a concept that is utterly
impossible to ever verify and is in fact ... a contradiction to the
concept of the Universe. Semantics are not the issue, there is
no such thing as beyond the Universe. Much fun though.

I've addressed this matter before. When you read the word "multiverse", translate it into "universe" in your vocabulary. When you read the word "universe" translate it into to the phrase "portion of the universe" in your vocabulary. Simple, unambiguous and allows you to understand what others are talking about.

davar55 · 2015-11-07, 17:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by xilman

I've addressed this matter before. When you read the word "multiverse", translate it into "universe" in your vocabulary. When you read the word "universe" translate it into to the phrase "portion of the universe" in your vocabulary. Simple, unambiguous and allows you to understand what others are talking about.

Absolutely not. The Universe is real. There ain't no multi-verse.

(If you're serious by the way, it explains why cosmology needs a big boost.)

xilman · 2015-11-07, 18:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by davar55

Absolutely not. The Universe is real. There ain't no multi-verse.

(If you're serious by the way, it explains why cosmology needs a big boost.)

Consistent with my post.

If I write "The Multiverse is real", you should assume that I meant to type "The Universe is real" and we continue to understand each other.

davar55 · 2015-11-07, 20:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by xilman

Consistent with my post.
If I write "The Multiverse is real", you should assume that I meant to type "The Universe is real" and we continue to understand each other.

And if I write "The Universe is real" you may assume I meant it.

xilman · 2015-11-07, 20:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by davar55

And if I write "The Universe is real" you may assume I meant it.

Fine by me.

2015-11-06, 21:54	#1
xilman Bamboozled! "𒉺𒌌𒇷𒆷𒀭" May 2003 Down not across 2·5·11·107 Posts	Anathem by Neal Stephenson A superb take on monastic life and some profound philosophy to boot. Had a significant influence on my thought processes.

2015-11-07, 16:08	#5
kladner "Kieren" Jul 2011 In My Own Galaxy! 2·3·1,693 Posts	I, too, found Anathem slow, at first. Much of this involves the use of modified familiar words, or words with subtly changed meanings. A good deal of exposition is needed, both to lay out the structure of scientific monasticism, and to allow the mutated words and meanings to acquire context. I expect to read it again, at some time, as I am sure more of the structure of the particular slice of the multiverse in which the story is set will become comprehensible. I think it is well worth the effort to sort out the confusing parts. It is a novel (heh!) approach to elucidating some tricky ideas. At the risk of playing the spoiler, I will point out that there is a point at which the multiple realities start overlapping, and [U]the possibility of intentional human influence over the flux is developed. [/U] As Paul said, above. Last fiddled with by kladner on 2015-11-07 at 16:10

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2015-11-07, 16:20	#6
davar55 May 2004 New York City 5·7·11² Posts	I trust we can all distinguish science fiction, such as a multi-verse, from actual science, which has to reject a concept that is utterly impossible to ever verify and is in fact ... a contradiction to the concept of the Universe. Semantics are not the issue, there is no such thing as beyond the Universe. Much fun though.