If you’ve read The Diamond Age, you know that Stephenson
made science fiction suddenly matter again. If sci-fi isn’t your
thing, maybe you read Cryptonomicon and marveled at his ability
to write an intelligent thriller. Or maybe you were blown away by
Stephenson’s hugely ambitious historical epic, The Baroque Cycle.
Whatever the genre, he’s one of the best writers in the
Northwest, and he’s making a rare public appearance to read from
his newest book, Anathem. (University Temple United Methodist
Church, 1415 NE 43rd St, 634-3400. 7 pm, $5.)