A magnificent work from the author of the bestsellers “Avalanche”, “The Diamond Age”, “Cryptonomicon” and the “Baroque Cycle” trilogy - a large-scale story that immerses the reader in a bizarrely inverted, but still recognizable world. Prizes “Locus”, “Portal” ", "Results of the Year" of the magazine "World of Science Fiction". Nominations for the Hugo Award, Arthur C. Clarke, John Campbell Memorial Award, British Science Fiction Association Award, Endeavor Award. Fraa Erasmas is a young monk living in concentration (once they were called monasteries) of the luminary Edhar, a refuge for mathematicians and philosophers. This is a monastery that protects scientists from the harmful influence of the outside secular world both with ancient stone walls and complex rituals and traditions. Over the centuries, cities and states. Three times, in the darkest periods of history, violence born of superstition and ignorance invaded and devastated the closed society of mathematical science. However, the scientific monks managed to adapt after the disasters, becoming more ascetic and less dependent on technology and the ideology of materialism. Erasmas, however, is not afraid of the outside world, because all these tragic events have turned into ancient history. Once a decade, the day of the apert ritual comes, when the gates of the concent are thrown wide open to let in curious laymen, extos, and release monks-others into the world. his first apert, Erasmas is looking forward to meeting his family and friends, whom he has not seen since he left for concentration. But not even a week will pass, as will his former life and the one he accepted. will find themselves on the verge of dangerous changes. Powerful forces threaten the peaceful and stable life of the monastic scientists. Only a fragile alliance between aliens and exts can resist them. One by one, Erasmas' colleagues emerge from the safety of the concentration camp, hoping to prevent a global catastrophe. Having accidentally taken responsibility for the fate of the world, Erasmas finds himself the main character in a drama that will determine the future of all things, and sets off on an unusual journey that will lead him to the most dangerous and inhospitable corners of an unfamiliar planet... and far beyond its borders.

“Reading this novel is an amazing experience.” - Washington Post "A wide-ranging exploration that will delight all those who love complex alternate worlds and understand irony." – Kirkus Reviews “Stormy and Stevenson's emotional storytelling echoes Walter Miller's classic Hymn to Leibowitz, the space operas of Larry Niven and the philosophical musings of Douglas Hofstadter - a heady mixture of predecessors that provides hours of great entertainment." - Publishers Weekly "Witty and twisted... Ingenious... Its brilliance is undeniable." – Locus “The reader will have fun guessing and finding historical antecedents in philosophy, science, mathematics and art, which Stevenson expounds with his characteristic wit. This is one of the smartest and most exciting novels I've read." – Locus “A Seattle writer who is a cross between William Gibson and Richard Powers. He knows how to tell stories, explore technology and retell absolutely everything that catches his eye.” – The Oregonian “A thrilling blend of clashing cultures, deductive reasoning and action.” – Columbus Dispatch “A novel destined to become a science fiction classic.” - Popular Mechanics "He mixes genres with the taste of Thomas Pynchon and the intelligence of William Gibson." – Winnipeg Free Press “A cocktail of quantum physics, philosophy and various other fascinating ideas. The author's enthusiasm for sharing his theories and explanations is infectious. Imagine “Name of the Rose” crossed with “Dune”. Truly fascinating food for thought." – The Oregonian (Portland) “The author's writing is twisty, with double turns and dead ends, twisting passages and highway speed. This Rube Goldberg-esque book is confusing, sometimes difficult to read. understanding, but always fascinating.” – Grand Rapids Press “The novel beautifully combines extended dialogue about quantum mechanics and the nature of consciousness with surprises, high-tech warfare, and courage.” – Leicester Mercury “It’s a challenge – feel like one of the others. Become a scientist and try to see the world a little differently.” - Eugene Weekly "Stevenson shows his ingenuity in blending science, sociology and satire in a thrilling adventure." – Sunday Sun (UK) “It’s almost impossible not to be impressed by the novel – there is simply too much erudition, wit, skill and risk in it.” – San Francisco Chronicle “In this novel, the author created a religion for skeptics and nerds.” – Austin American-Statesman “This is a brilliant, humorous tour of an area where logic, mathematics, philosophy and quantum physics, a novel of ideas of the highest quality that combines wordplay and mathematical theory with a thrilling adventure." – London Times “As in the author's previous works, the plot and characters are of the highest standards of fantasy, but even more compelling are the worlds he creates. If there is anything more fascinating to the reader than Anathem, then it should probably be banned." - Word"Scholarly, witty, intricately twisted, emotionally complex, politically astute and often darkly funny... This is an audacious work of highbrow imagination, a delightfully insightful text." – Edmonton Journal “An irreverent piece of science fiction. The novel offers the reader a juicy cocktail of words, jokes and speculation." – Boston Globe “This is a book about science and philosophy that requires the reader's full concentration. A worthy, intelligent and exciting read." – Time Out London “Suddenly, novels about ideas are cool again.” – io9 “The world the author has created is richly visualized, complex social politics are convincingly detailed, and cool and conflicted characters battle exciting intellectual puzzles while challenging themselves on epic adventures.” – Sla