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Luka Naglić
It's obvious humor. It might be a point of worry you don't recognize that.
Ivan Wohner
When I first read snow crash, discovering Hiro make me laugh uncontrolably, not just at the name, but at the device that was being used. a big aspect of the book is it's exploration (almost prophetically) in technology. And half the action takes place in the Meta-verse. If you're going to write about the meta-verse, in a work of fiction, calling your hero/protagonist Hiro Protagonist is the most meta way to do so. And with that simple choice, the humor and irreverent tone are set, this book attacks what a novel should be, and mid way through, when you're thinking to yourself "Holy @#% this is unbelievable, this is insane" ; you can just remember old Hiro and realize that this is just a novel. And when you think, "omg, this is what's happening with the world!" you'll say, also this is just a novel.
Adam Czarnecki
More annoying than the name are the people who look down upon those of us who don't find it funny or clever but actually kind of silly and contemptuous. To answer your question: yes. Chances are, if you don't "get" the name (like me), you won't "get" the rest of the story, either.
Daniel
That's up to you. I'm more interested in the fact that people seem to be personally offended that you don't find mediocre jokes to be signs of impending genius.
dsreads
It's a quick bit of satire. I thought it was a little distracting and kept wondering if it would affect the plot. But to answer your question, no.
Stephenson goes deeper into his imaginative plots than just about any author I've read.
Stephenson goes deeper into his imaginative plots than just about any author I've read.
Chad
You might need to be worried (and find a different book) if you don't find it cheeky. The book and characters are full of imagination, given the year it was written and the technology that has come to reality in the time frame.
Rick Garcia
It's satire. But seriously, don't worry about the lack of imagination. The world painted by Stephenson in Snow Crash is a wacky, over-the-top mixture of corporativism, megachurches and violence. Honestly, it has some hilarious scenes of sardonic criticism at society that still make me smile to this day.
But that's not all. The way Snow Crash mixes the alluring evil plot done by the bad guys, with references to ancient Mesopotamian religions, is just epic. It really makes you think, and wonder whether some corporation or the status-quo isn't actually manipulating your brain with the subtleties of mass psychology right now.
The protagonist's name might be cliché, but it's done on purpose, and the intellectual and creative level of the rest of the book is good enough to make it a modern classic.
But that's not all. The way Snow Crash mixes the alluring evil plot done by the bad guys, with references to ancient Mesopotamian religions, is just epic. It really makes you think, and wonder whether some corporation or the status-quo isn't actually manipulating your brain with the subtleties of mass psychology right now.
The protagonist's name might be cliché, but it's done on purpose, and the intellectual and creative level of the rest of the book is good enough to make it a modern classic.
Zedsdead
The name doesn't represent a lack of imagination on the part of the author. Rather, it is deliberately adopted by a character as a form of quirky marketing.
Honestly the name Hiro Protagonist and the fact that he's ostensibly a "pizza delivery boy" both worried me too before I read the book, but in the context of the story they actually do make sense. Not to worry!
Honestly the name Hiro Protagonist and the fact that he's ostensibly a "pizza delivery boy" both worried me too before I read the book, but in the context of the story they actually do make sense. Not to worry!
Sam
For anyone who cares, having read it now, I can answer no - the rest of the book is imaginative and compelling. I still don't really find the name funny or interesting, but the book's good overall.
Tangentally, I find it interesting noone mentioned that the author addresses it in the book. Someone calls Hiro's name dumb and he responds that 'you won't forget it, though'.
Tangentally, I find it interesting noone mentioned that the author addresses it in the book. Someone calls Hiro's name dumb and he responds that 'you won't forget it, though'.
Christian Maulsby
Humor is the undertone and this story shouldn't be taken so seriously, In my head I've always seen this book as kind of a "Judge Dread" meets "5th Element" meets "Tron".... Well Tron maybe a stretch but its an awesomely detailed world. At least visually ... Please don't mistake my movies references, as a comparison of his writing... Neal Stephenson tells an incredible story. Worried ... not for a lack of imagination, but Id suggest you lighten up a bit. At least if you intend on enjoying the story.
Gabriel
You're gonna hate Thomas Pynchon and Joseph Heller, both wonderful authors who use naming conventions as a form of satire.
Angel
The ridiculously rude answers to this question alone are making me want to steer clear of this book. Generally bad fans = bad author = bad books.
Liz
If you don't like the name Hiro Protagonist then we have nothing to say to each other. And Stephenson probably isn't for you.
Brian Remington
Definitely worry. I don't wear the underpants lately because long underwear makes it uncomfortable. You may have had your last attractive girlfriend. Physically attractive, that is.
Nights are long.
The grass grew for shit this year.
Nights are long.
The grass grew for shit this year.
Rylan
Hero Hero! That's a fairly minor thing to get hung up upon given the rest of the story.
Alex
Yes, definitely! Worry about it, worry about it all night long! Or do something else! It's up to you! :-)
Justin
Nope no worries, the book is very good and imaginative. Admittedly it can get a bit intellectual at times, a bit crazy at others, and even delves into religion, but the book is well worth the read. If you enjoy Virtual Reality, Samurais, Nukes on motorcycles, Gangsters, Mad Max, and religious cults you'll enjoy this book.
I know these questions were probably already answered, but it seemed most of the answers were just people bashing each other. I didn't realize goodreads turned into reddit forums? Internet Warriors are so fierce ;).
I know these questions were probably already answered, but it seemed most of the answers were just people bashing each other. I didn't realize goodreads turned into reddit forums? Internet Warriors are so fierce ;).
Pengo
It's more a sign that the author is really bad at naming things.
There are also creatures imaginatively named "rat things" (which I found grating from the first time it was used). Not to mention "Mr. Lee's Greater Hong Kong". Yes, I get it. It's a joke. It's satire. Whatever. But no one would name a country that even if they owned it. Absurd humor can work, but it forces the reader out the story every mention. (Oddly I notice another reply gives this as a positive because they were so into the story that they need something to take them out of it). But personally I did not find the silly names particularly clever or charming.
There are also creatures imaginatively named "rat things" (which I found grating from the first time it was used). Not to mention "Mr. Lee's Greater Hong Kong". Yes, I get it. It's a joke. It's satire. Whatever. But no one would name a country that even if they owned it. Absurd humor can work, but it forces the reader out the story every mention. (Oddly I notice another reply gives this as a positive because they were so into the story that they need something to take them out of it). But personally I did not find the silly names particularly clever or charming.
Ben Lienemann
I honestly thought it was hilarious.
Kim
This question doesn't need more answers than it already has, but here's another one into the mix, anyway: it's a username. And like any username, it's chosen by the user to represent something about himself—to others and to himself. And like many usernames, what it says to others isn't always clear or clever or accurate. We're left wondering if Hiro Protagonist is indeed a hero or if he's as much of a blank placeholder for one as his name.
Connor Hagan
It's part satire, part action, part sci-fi. In my opinion, it reads like a cyberpunk version of Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World. It's a fantastic book that is highly imaginative and takes the cyberpunk setting to a cartoonish extreme while still bringing the deep philosophy of hard science fiction.
Jaykob Storey
You get that this isn't his real name, right? The books doesn't spell it out cause it expects just a little more of its readers. It's a nickname, a pseudonym, something he chose for himself as his street persona. This is very common in Cyberpunk fiction. Neo in the Matrix, Molly Millions in Neuromancer, Johnny Silverhand. Every Cyberpunk character uses a fake name and most of the time we never learn their real identity.
It's literally on a business card that also says, "Last of The Freelance Hacker and Workd's Greatest Swordsman." He's a cocky young man that takes jobs specifically because the possibility of death excites him. It's extremely in character for him to dub himself, "Hiro Protagonist."
Not to mention, this is an absurdity world where pizza boys have to wear ballistic gel armour and if the pizza is one second late, the delivery guy gets executed. It's ridiculous. You're not supposed to take it that seriously. It's one step down from Monty Python: Cyberpunk Edition.
It's literally on a business card that also says, "Last of The Freelance Hacker and Workd's Greatest Swordsman." He's a cocky young man that takes jobs specifically because the possibility of death excites him. It's extremely in character for him to dub himself, "Hiro Protagonist."
Not to mention, this is an absurdity world where pizza boys have to wear ballistic gel armour and if the pizza is one second late, the delivery guy gets executed. It's ridiculous. You're not supposed to take it that seriously. It's one step down from Monty Python: Cyberpunk Edition.
John
You should be worried about the startling lack of imagination your comment displays.
Santiago Arizti
When I first read his name, Hiro Protagonist, I sort of found a conection with how most people when they first open an email account (hotmail for example) or create an online username (twitter for example), they tend to pick something cheeky and stupid, only to find 10 years later that changing a username is more cumbersome than expected. I have seen formal CVs of people applying for real-life jobs with crazyboy88@hotmail.com-like emails on them!
Mark Ciccarello
I'd be more concerned about the startling lack of intelligence your question displays.
Cooper
I mean, did you only get that far before deciding how you feel about the whole book or did you finish reading and this was your only takeaway?
epstein
DUH. Move on friend. This is not the book you are looking for.
Ty
Its self-chosen - kind of like Stephenson predicting that we'd be selling ourselves just as much as our talents/skills in the age of the "metaverse". In universe characters think its pretentious too, but Y.T. can't really speak either about her name nor should Dav3d.
I think the first chapter really does everything it can to demonstrate why he has that name for himself, and then gives you a good reason to not think he's be a Gary Stu.
I think the first chapter really does everything it can to demonstrate why he has that name for himself, and then gives you a good reason to not think he's be a Gary Stu.
Kyle
It's very indicative of the book's humor. So hell goddam yeah you should be worried.
Saul the Heir of Isauldur
Read now, questions later. If your mind is un-boggled enough for questions.
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