Ouch! Wash Post's Dirda on Stephenson's Anathem

[Henry]

http://tinyurl.com/dirdaonanathem 
"Which brings me to my quandary. Neal Stephenson has established himself as
one of these genre-transcending gods, read passionately by geeks and fans,
but also admired as a novelist of ideas, a 21st-century Thomas Pynchon. In
the best-selling Cryptonomicon he juxtaposes code-breaking during World War
II with data encryption in the era of the Internet. A three-volume 'Baroque
Cycle' -- half Umberto Eco mystery, half Dorothy Dunnett swashbuckler --
examines science in the 17th century. All these novels are immensely long,
yet it doesn't matter to the growing band of Stephensonians. Excess is
clearly the name of the game. This new novel, Anathem, arrives with a major
publicity campaign that includes podcasts, e-cards, YouTube appearances,
guest blogs and the relaunch of the Neal Stephenson Web site. Everyone has
gone all out for Anathem. I fully expected to join the stampede. "

"Alas, I can't even lope slowly alongside the herd. Oh, Anathem will
certainly be admired for its intelligence, ambition, control and ingenuity.
But loved? Enjoyed? The book reminds me of Harold Brodkey's The Runaway Soul
from 17 years ago -- much anticipated, in places quite brilliant, but
ultimately grandiose, overwrought and pretty damn dull."

Henry Mu
Information, Media, and Technology Management Consultant
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/henrymu