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Snow Crash
The following report compares books using the SERCount Rating (base on the result count from the search engine).
Rating: 4.24/5 from 547 reviews A glimpse into the future ... oh yeah, and some other stuff.An imaginative book sure to entertain.Neal Stephenson has written an entertaining novel whose thought-provoking ideas are matched only by its eclectic cast of characters. Focusing on the idea of knowledge and the dissemination of knowledge through computer technology, the basic premise of Snow Crash is that of the protagonist (named Hiro Protagonist, no less) and his young partner, Y.T. (Yours Truly, which she wouldn't bother to tell you unless it was in the form of a sarcastic remark), thwarting an intended infocalypse with a little help from the Mafia and some other unusual allies. Along the way, the reader is given a good look at a future that may not be so far away: one dominated by computer technology and paralleled by a virtual reality that might question exactly what constitutes reality, and private franchises which rule in the place of governments. Stephenson has a flair for vivid description of a world just strange enough to be innovative and intriguing, yet familiar enough that we can see its basis very firmly rooted in our own. Despite the outlandish nature of both Snow Crash's characters and setting, basic principles are the same: there is the rich and the poor, the powerful and the weak, those who survive and those who do not; the difference between the two is that of information. However, despite all these assets, Snow Crash is little more than light entertainment. The lofty ideas which Stephenson explores in his book seem to be beyond his firm comprehension, and discussions of Babel, Sumerian myth and other archaeological finds are dry and arcane, detracting from an otherwise vibrant and fast-paced plot. Almost all relevant information about the technical aspects of Snow Crash is revealed in the form of cryptic dialogue between Hiro and a computer-generated librarian, discussions that sound more like encyclopedia recitations than believable (or understandable) dialogue. I found myself glossing over these portions of the book without any real effect on my understanding of the plot; in the end it still comes out to the same thing: the bad guys have a dangerous weapon, and the good guys have to stop them. The details about Sumer and the fall of man are interesting, but not portrayed in a form that lends itself to any quick grasp of ideas that can be retained after the book is done. However, for those willing to take the time to read and reread a fourth time, Stephenson poses some interesting ideas to ponder. The characters in Snow Crash never leave the reader a moment to rest from the excitement they provide. Outrageous events happen one after another, and the calm manner in which they face everything from kidnapping and murder to the possibility of destruction of society and the world as they know it provides a great deal of amusement and curiosity about what they might do next. However, despite a plot that hurtles itself ever forward and drags the reader along, forced to either keep up or drop along the way, I found the ending both disappointing and deflating. Hiro and Y.T. save the world, of course, but then Hiro just drops out of the story altogether and Y.T. appears to transform from a rebellious and wild Kourier into mommy's little girl for little other reason than to provide some kind of ending. I would have liked at least for some kind of epilogue, if not a totally different ending altogether. In reading the last few pages, it seemed that Stephenson rushes to tie up all the loose ends of the story in any way possible - any way possible often equating to dull, bland, and unsuitable when compared to other parts of the book. After such a well-written novel containing such interesting characters and a world whose details must be read to be believed, I was hugely disappointed by the conclusion to say the least. However, Stephenson does tell an interesting tale and has great potential; his best work is yet to come. Maybe I just don't care much for the cyberpunk genre......but this has got to be the most disappointing novel I've ever wasted my time on! Okay, so I listened to the audiobook version while I was driving to and from work, and so I was kind of a captive audience anyway. But I would have been much better off spending that time listening to something like, "The Blue Nowhere: A Novel," by Jeffery Deaver (which I'm currently listening to), or maybe "Digital Fortress," by Dan Brown (which I've already read in book format). Although these novels may not have as much appeal to the true techno-geek/hacker types, they are much better suited to those of us who want to be engrossed in a truly riveting story while stuck in traffic. Most of the time I was confused about whether the characters were in reality or virtual reality at any given moment, and the rest of the time I was confused as to what the story was supposed to be about. Don't get me wrong - there was some great material in there, and the story might have bloomed in the hands of a truly gifted writer, but judging by this novel, Neal Stephenson is apparently not that writer. All in all, this novel was entirely forgettable. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Not being into cyberpunk (as a genre), I took a friend's advice and read Snow Crash. I wasn't disappointed.
Neal Stephenson's "in your face" writing, grabs you by the shoulders and rockets you through the not-so-far-away future, ruled by franchises such as Mr. Lee's Greater Hong Kong and The Mafia -- You've Got a Friend in the Family!, and policed by franchises like The MetaCops. A future with public street computer terminals on every corner, so you can log onto the MetaVerse, because virtual reality beats staring at the walls of your U-Stor-It 20x30 space.
Published at a time when CompuServe, Prodigy, and AOL were just taking off, Snow Crash gives you a glimpse of how things might (and probably will) be, and as an added plus, gives you a lesson in ancient history. The main characters have just enough attitude to make you care about their mis/adventures through the prefab, neon landscape, and even though the history lesson slows you down, it's not as if you aren't learning anything in the process.
I recommend this book to everyone whose social life consists of booting up and logging on, and to whomever appreciates the type of fast-paced, creative, and humorous writing that Neal Stephenson excels at.