Snow Crash

published	May 2nd 2000 by Spectra
first published	1999
binding	Paperback
isbn	0553380958 (isbn13: 9780553380958)
ebook
pages	480
description	From the opening line of his breakthrough cyberpunk novel Snow Crash, Neal Stephenson plunges the reader into a not-too-distant future. It is a...more [close] From the opening line of his breakthrough cyberpunk novel Snow Crash, Neal Stephenson plunges the reader into a not-too-distant future. It is a world where the Mafia controls pizza delivery, the United States exists as a patchwork of corporate-franchise city-states, and the Internet--incarnate as the Metaverse--looks something like last year's hype would lead you to believe it should. Enter Hiro Protagonist--hacker, samurai swordsman, and pizza-delivery driver. When his best friend fries his brain on a new designer drug called Snow Crash and his beautiful, brainy ex-girlfriend asks for his help, what's a guy with a name like that to do? He rushes to the rescue. A breakneck-paced 21st-century novel, Snow Crash interweaves everything from Sumerian myth to visions of a postmodern civilization on the brink of collapse. Faster than the speed of television and a whole lot more fun, Snow Crash is the portrayal of a future that is bizarre enough to be plausible. [close]
date added	09-04-06 edit book

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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 8948)

Nick is currently reading it

08/19/08

bookshelves: currently-reading

Read in August, 2008

recommended to Nick by: Ginny

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

I've decided to review this book as I read it. Sort of like live-blogging but not as pretentious or douchey sounding.

First and I guess foremost you have to understand that I read slowly. Like if people knew how slowly I read they would be like "that guy's retarded, and I don't mean in the offensive way that my friends are retarded." So I've been reading it for a week now and I'm not quite a hundred pages in and this is what I've learned so far.

The main character's name is Hi...more

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13 comments

NEMO rated it:

04/29/08

recommends it for: all

the future is now.
Uncanny how the author definately conveyed at least a dozen years ago, what is happening now, today.

they'rrrre hereee....
Hiro Protaganist, an interesting character.
altho i relate more to Vasily Chernobyl and the Meltdowns--
never been able to figure why people actually prefer freeways
(seems like asking for it)
and the L.Bob Rife character: beautifully co-opted.like the moniker; in fact a rundown of characters courtesy of wikipedia gives a feel for the tome:
Hiroa...more

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David rated it:

12/04/07

Read in January, 2006

Most cyberpunk novels were written before the transformational effect the internet had on telecommunications. There has been an overwhelming impact on the web, technology and information as well. The first thing anybody seems to think about when he gets up in the morning is to check his email. In 1992 the computer age was just starting to peak as a communication and information source. In that same year Neal Stephenson introduced his novel “Snow Crash” the novel was based on a near future...more
Most cyberpunk novels were written before the transformational effect the internet had on telecommunications. There has been an overwhelming impact on the web, technology and information as well. The first thing anybody seems to think about when he gets up in the morning is to check his email. In 1992 the computer age was just starting to peak as a communication and information source. In that same year Neal Stephenson introduced his novel “Snow Crash” the novel was based on a near future dystopian fantasy vision which only slightly differs from the reality of the year 2006. Snow Crash is about a young daring pizza man who decides to play superhero in order to stop the perpetrators behind the mass distribution of a harmful drug called Snow Crash. The reader is taken through a nonstop adventure into an alternate realm accessible through ones computer terminal. The action is never-ending featuring amazingly vivid futuristic scenery How real the depiction of the future Stephenson predicted at the time comes to light in today’s internet controlled society. Many of the predictions mentioned in Snow Crash are as real as imaginable and remain credible in the fact that they apparently came true.

Snow Crash is one of the most famous cyberpunk fiction novels ever written . It takes place in the metaverse a setting not very different from "the matrix" a fictional computer enhanced realm accessible by anybody with a working computer “The people are pieces of software called avatars they are audio visual bodies that people use to communicate with each other in the metaverse”(Stephenson#36).Entering Stephenson’s metaverse has strong simulation to a very popular transformation taking place among most video game formats. Virtual reality video games where you can see a 3d depiction of yourself playing the game “Your avatar can look any way you want it to up to the limitations of your equipment" (Stephenson#36). In this statement we see Stephenson’s almost prophetic extrapolation of computer technology, The ability that exists in the hands of web designers today give an almost holographic appearing avatar very similar to those that existed in “Snow Crash” that gave the user the opportunity to adjust his appearance any way he deemed fit. At the time this novel was written we were only able to experience games like missile command and asteroids, there was nothing publicly available even remotely resembling what’s available to us today

Technoculture is the combination of the most fascinating and important developed trends in technology that most affect our culture as much as the web “Linking the act of creativity with he telecommunications machines that now facilitate and mediate human contact”(Geyh#509). Paula Geyh editor of the anthology "Postmodern American Fiction" speaks of the recent developments in technoculture. In her book she emphasizes the impact that telecommunications has had on people.

“Snow Crash takes on a common cyberpunk theme that of the implications of the information explosion caused by new technologies such as global fiber optic network”(Meyer#1).
A pioneer of his time Stephenson scratches the surface, in taking the computer idea a step further visionary style and understand through foresight the implications of new technologies and their inevitable expansion and improvement over the years,realizing that as with all inventions the computer must improve and expand most authors could never imagine what would have happened. “Stephenson is a computer programmer and his detailed deskriptions of how the metaverse works and how people through simulations called avatars can enter it provide a more solid basis for his fiction”(Meyers#1).

All in all a great read and worth the effort.

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Shannon rated it:

03/19/08

bookshelves: 2008, sci-fi

Read in March, 2008

There are two sides to this story: one, a philosophical or ideological idea regarding language and human development, especially the development of our higher consciousness - all very interesting but not entirely believable; the argument doesn't necessarily stand up under closer inspection. But it's interesting how Hiro reduces ancient philosophy, religion and history into computer language. The second side to the story is an ironic thrill-ride of high-speed car chases, drugs, action, a seriousl...more There are two sides to this story: one, a philosophical or ideological idea regarding language and human development, especially the development of our higher consciousness - all very interesting but not entirely believable; the argument doesn't necessarily stand up under closer inspection. But it's interesting how Hiro reduces ancient philosophy, religion and history into computer language. The second side to the story is an ironic thrill-ride of high-speed car chases, drugs, action, a seriously scary Aleut (Native) called Raven who's bent on revenge, and some really cool android dogs.

But there's nothing revelatory here. The setting - the extreme privitisation, the extreme capitalism, the religion-for-profit etc. - is nothing new, and already exists, just not quite to this extent. Yet. But in America there are already private prisons, and the Catholic Church has a looooong history of demanding payment in exchange for forgiveness of your sins, amongst other things. The descriptions of how the Metaverse works really bog the novel down in places, and there are a lot of loose threads or things that just aren't explained adequately, or at all.

The characters really carry the story here, though you never get close enough to them. Their feelings are rarely disclosed, so it's hard to know what their motivations are and you end up guessing a lot of the time. Hiro, for example, I wasn't sure about for a long time - was he really the greatest sword-fighter in the world or was he just a delusional computer nerd living out his fantasies in the internet? He certainly showed some skill later in the book, but there was always some element of surprise, like it was a fluke or something. Raven was an intriguing character, and YT had spunk galore without being irritating.

At the end of the day, I'm torn. I liked it, but I didn't. I liked the "story" part of it, but I didn't care for the waffling about technology, and the discussions with the Librarian about gods and Babel etc. weren't easy to focus on; I often found my mind wandering, as interesting as it was. It was a gem of it's time, I'm sure, and in some ways it hasn't dated much at all.

The only other thing I wanted to mention was Rife's Raft, which reminded me strongly of China Mieville's The Scar - wherein a collection of mostly sea-worthy vessels all tied together into one great city. Mieville turned the concept into an entire, thrilling novel (set in the same world as Perdido Street Station), and maybe it was inspired by the Raft in Snow Crash, I don't know, but The Scar is a much better book, in my humble, ignorant opinion. But I did appreciate the black humour, the irony, and some rather obvious but fun caricatures....less

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Robert rated it:

03/18/08

bookshelves: sci-fi

Read in March, 2008

For me, Snow Crash was an unexpected gem if science fiction. I was immediately hooked in by Stephenson's view of the future, from the advancement of the pizza delivery service to the grand piece of technology that serves as the Internet's successor. He has a sharp wit and a humorous way of comparing technology advances and glitches to situations that everybody can enjoy.

The novel opens on a pizza delivery gone bad, where the two primary characters meet not by choice. Right in chapter one, it...more For me, Snow Crash was an unexpected gem if science fiction. I was immediately hooked in by Stephenson's view of the future, from the advancement of the pizza delivery service to the grand piece of technology that serves as the Internet's successor. He has a sharp wit and a humorous way of comparing technology advances and glitches to situations that everybody can enjoy.

The novel opens on a pizza delivery gone bad, where the two primary characters meet not by choice. Right in chapter one, it becomes evident that this is not the society we know. We follow Hiro and Y.T. through their struggles to discover the truth behind a mysterious new drug called Snow Crash.

Hiro, last of the Freelance Hackers, researches ancient history trying to trace the line between ancient Sumerian legend and the drug Snow Crash, a drug that appears to be both a heavy narcotic and a deadly computer virus at the same time. Goggled into the Metaverse, a digital world of intercommunication that replaces the Internet, any hacker who sees the Snow Crash virus is infected, causing their brain to "crash" the same way their computers do when exposed to it. Hiro searches for clues on how this could be possible and for ways to protect the hacker population, all while trying not to become infected himself. The problem is that the research is not his own, and now he must piece the puzzle together from the notes of a crazy scientist he has only met once.

Y.T., a delivery Kourier with an attitude, meets Hiro after trying to hitch a ride on his pizza truck, then delivering the pizza for him when the truck gets totaled. Through this meeting, Y.T. catches the interest of the Mafia, as well as several other large corporations. Y.T. becomes instrumental in helping investigate the new drug Snow Crash, whose users seem to be reduced to the mental capacity of children, and who frequently speak in strange tongues. Y.T. must do what she can, all the while avoiding being injected with Snow Crash herself.

Snow Crash depicts a future where things may seem bleak at first, but as the story progresses you learn how society seems to actually be better off with the radical changes from the world we know. Many things will seem strange or out of place, but within the America that Stephenson paints, all fits well with each of it's counterparts. With an attention to detail, Stephenson depicts a highly believable world where industry is the ruling factor, and sets the stage for the struggle against Snow Crash....less

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korty rated it:

10/31/07

Read in January, 1992

Cyberpunk’s next generation pretty much began here. Written by someone who -unlike William Gibson- actually knows computers, this anime in novel form is one of those rare SF books that is read by many non-SF readers.

On a personal note, this is probably the only book I’ll ever read whose main character is half black and half Japanese, just like me! When I first read it, I was working at a pizza place, just like the protagonist, and I actually got fired around the same time I got to th...more

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Chad rated it:

05/30/08

Read in November, 2007

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

I did not find the main plot of mythology and neuroviruses to be very believable or interesting, but I still found this to be one of the most enjoyable books I have read in several years. Stephenson’s vision of post-modern franchised America is simply outstanding, and his characters are largely believable and sympathetic. To be honest, I would have been perfectly happy to read an entire book about the exploits of the Deliverator and the strange but familiar world in which he works.

Beyond t...more

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Andrea rated it:

09/22/07

bookshelves: speculative-fiction

Read in April, 2005

While cliches like "fast-paced techno-thriller" might apply to this book, unlike most books with phrases like that on the cover, this book deserves it (and in a good way). The technology is both believeable and creative, and the characters, while not exactly loveable, are definitely interesting. I can't help but compare this book to Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, in that they both deal with ancient and modern codes and hidden messages in religion, art, and science. Both are actually pretty...more

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Eri-chan rated it:

07/09/08

Read in July, 2008

Easily the most fun book I've read in ages, perfect entertainment in the middle of a recent string of dramatic/depressing novels.

Hiro Protagonist (betcha can't guess what role he fills in the book) lives in a futuristic world that is lived as much in the Metaverse, an infinitely large SecondLife-esque virtual world, as it is in the real world. The earth we know today is replaced with one where countries are franchised establishments, delivering pizza is Mafia territory, and the mail system i...more

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Taka rated it:

12/27/07

bookshelves: japan_jul07-present, post-modern_lit

Read in December, 2007

So good--

Not quite "Amazing," but still really, really good. Classified as a post-cyberpunk novel, Snow Crash tells of the US in a near future when everything is owned by corporations and the country is fragmented into small city-states (which in turn are owned and run by corporations). The genre is really irrelevant here, really; it's reminiscent of Murakami's Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World in plot (somewhat), and David Foster Wallace's Infinite Jest...more

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Bill rated it:

01/31/08

bookshelves: science-fiction

Read in November, 2000

This is one I had been meaning to read for years, and from all the raving reviews I had set myself up to expect something exceptional. I'm not going to say I was disappointed. I guess from the nature of all
the raves I shouldn't have expected anything other than what it was: rollicking, techy, punky, lots of action. If these are your ingredients for a must-read, then by all means get off your butt and read this now!
Stephenson's cyberpunk vision, the Metaverse, is bang-on to what you would exp...more

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Sandi rated it:

07/02/08

bookshelves: 2008, sci-fi

Read in July, 2008

recommended to Sandi by: Re-reading

I read “Snow Crash” when it first came out in paperback nearly 15 years ago. Then, I had a really hard time getting through it. But, I kept thinking about different concepts in it over and over again. I never forgot the bimbo boxes—slang for minivans driven by suburban housewives. Talk about a book telling the future!

Upon re-reading the book, I now understand why it was so difficult. First, there’s that tricky slang problem. Stephenson invented a lot of slang for the book and...more

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Meika rated it:

06/01/08

Read in June, 2008

Raven is one hawt bad-guy.
As for the rest of the book, to say that it's relevant is an understatement. Maybe I wouldn't go so far as to say it's a well-rendered glimpse of the future, but then again, after a couple beers I would probably start rambling about how the fractioning of public services, the mainstreaming of mafia organizations, the stodgy-loyal-inefficient government in cahoots with the Texan Christian megalomaniac selling religion to the masses, and all that has been captured li...more

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Justin rated it:

04/10/08

Read in April, 2008

Wow, this book was the most fun ive had since I was 8 and a huge blizzard hit giving me a week off of school to play in the snow every day.

This novel by no means takes itself seriously, the main character's name is "Hiro Protagonist" and he lives in the not too distant future where all governments are collapsed and corporations have set up their own mini countries inside of the old political boarders. It is a high tech society where all of it is being put to use for entertainment pur...more

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Liam rated it:

08/03/07

Read in July, 2007

A wonderfully complex and imaginative book unafraid to take on some major themes. When I started it, I was slightly put off by its uberhippness (the two main characters are a samurai-sword wielding hacker and a fifteen-year-old skater chick), but the brilliance of the book soon pulled me in. Written in 1992, the book imagines a world in which people relate as much in virtual reality (the "metaverse") as they do in real life. The government has all but disappeared, and the authority in ...more

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Vincent rated it:

11/18/07

Read in August, 2007

recommends it for: Everyone

This is an absolutely amazing book! It follows the twisted story of Hiro Protagonist, a pizza delivery man in the future working for the Cosa Nostra pizza company who promise to deliver your pizza in 30 minutes or less or Uncle Enzo himself will personally immediately come to your home to apologize. Hiro is also a hacker and one of the founders of the Metaverse, an online virtual reality in which you are represented in real time by an avatar of various design. Both in the real world and in th...more

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Mike rated it:

03/29/08

bookshelves: cyberpunk, science-fiction

Damn but I love this book. As I am writing this I am currently listening to the unabridged version in my car, well, not right now, as that would lead me to crash and die and would be most unfortunate, but instead of re-reading it in book form I am using my commute to listen to this rather than the radio, because I think the radio is kinda dumb and this is not only clear it's also a fantastic book.
I forgot how beautifully written it is, the descriptions of everything are so good, and the random...more

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Jenny rated it:

05/07/07

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in April, 2007

As someone currently addicted to Second Life (a virtual world where you live represented by an avatar) I loved this book.

“And even the word ‘library’ is getting hazy. It used to be a place full of books, mostly old ones. Then they began to include videotapes, records, and magazines. Then all the information got converted into machine-