5 ms·

This idea is a significant part of Anathem by Neal Stephenson.

• Chu4eeno 2mo ago
  Anathem was so chock full of interesting ideas, too bad the last parts of it were so rushed (or at least felt that way to me).
  • lern_too_spel 2mo ago
    That's most of Stephenson's books. 90% world building and then 10% story at the end.
    • p1necone 2mo ago
      This worked for Snow Crash - felt like I went on a theme park ride, got to the end of it, and hopped off still buzzing. Doesn't work so well for something less tongue in cheek.
  • jaggederest 2mo ago
    I always describe it as an excellent 300 page novel crammed into 900 pages.
    • ezekg 2mo ago
      This is the clearest explanation of why I never really liked Stephenson.
    • ahartmetz 2mo ago
      Same with Cryptonomicon. Guy doesn't know when to stop rambling. Oh, and it had a weak ending, too.
  • cfiggers 2mo ago
    Strong agree. I was especially disappointed because it felt like he was dropping breadcrumbs all through the book and then... Nah, none of that foreshadowing mattered. The central tension of the book is handled by an off-screen deus ex machina, actually, everybody go home. Incredible ideas. Really, really lousy ending.
• PopAlongKid 2mo ago
  Also featured in the 1985 novel Footfall by Niven and Pournelle.
  • variaga 2mo ago
    "God was knocking, and he wanted in bad"