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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
It's fun, it's stylish, and it's been an inspiration to generations of techies and creatives. I can see why it's so highly recommended, and I can see how it could be amazing. But for me, it just fails in some really important ways.
For example, I did enjoy the world building as it had a lot of interesting ideas and when you consider that it came out in 1992, well, damn, you have to take your hat off to Neal. But as soon as the main plot kicks in, the world building is kind of pushed to the side and a not so fun plot is drags on. There were some good ideas, but it all felt like it wasn't connected, with some ideas being dropped and others being forgotten.
Then there are the characters, all of whom start off really well with interesting/unique backgrounds, but as the book goes on they never really develop or grow. In the end we're left with a really nice set of D&D character sheets, basically paper thin characters. I guess it depends on how/when you read it, because for example Hiro Protagonist (clever name!) is literally every 13 year old boy's dream, this cool super master hacker who is also a master swordsman, women love him and he gets the girl at the end (the girl that also had practically no development and exists almost exclusively for Hiro). Hiro never grows, is never really challenged, never has to do anything other than his usual badassery. Basically, Hiro is your typical 80's action movie star, he's a badass because he is and that's it, deal with it.
All in all, though, it's still an interesting read, and still has great ideas about the metaverse today (maybe someone should give a copy to Zuck?), but I feel like if I'd read it when I was younger, when I was less of a cynical grumpy old man, I would have enjoyed it a lot more.
For example, I did enjoy the world building as it had a lot of interesting ideas and when you consider that it came out in 1992, well, damn, you have to take your hat off to Neal. But as soon as the main plot kicks in, the world building is kind of pushed to the side and a not so fun plot is drags on. There were some good ideas, but it all felt like it wasn't connected, with some ideas being dropped and others being forgotten.
Then there are the characters, all of whom start off really well with interesting/unique backgrounds, but as the book goes on they never really develop or grow. In the end we're left with a really nice set of D&D character sheets, basically paper thin characters. I guess it depends on how/when you read it, because for example Hiro Protagonist (clever name!) is literally every 13 year old boy's dream, this cool super master hacker who is also a master swordsman, women love him and he gets the girl at the end (the girl that also had practically no development and exists almost exclusively for Hiro). Hiro never grows, is never really challenged, never has to do anything other than his usual badassery. Basically, Hiro is your typical 80's action movie star, he's a badass because he is and that's it, deal with it.
All in all, though, it's still an interesting read, and still has great ideas about the metaverse today (maybe someone should give a copy to Zuck?), but I feel like if I'd read it when I was younger, when I was less of a cynical grumpy old man, I would have enjoyed it a lot more.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Excellent cyberpunk thriller. In the vein of Neuromancer by William Gibson. Exciting, humorous at times, imaginative. If you're a fan of Stephenson, you'll recognize the same central character. Not in name, but in the way he completely misunderstands women. If you haven't read it yet and you enjoy science fiction/cyberpunk, read it immediately.
challenging
slow-paced
I must confess that I was really close to DNF this book. Being an immigrant with a mother tongue other than english , the story was really hard for me to follow .
On a trip to Quebec City by train , I pushed through this book for 7 hours in a day till things finally got shape in the story and I could figure something out .
Many people overlook fantasy and sci-fi for the reason that they are not worth anything . This book is the perfect example that they are actually really valuable . The idea that “ language and religion are tools for conquering nations “ is true and depicted really well in this story.
P.S: descriptions of meta verse reminded me of the trailer for the Matrix 4 where Neo walks in a street made of binary code .
On a trip to Quebec City by train , I pushed through this book for 7 hours in a day till things finally got shape in the story and I could figure something out .
Many people overlook fantasy and sci-fi for the reason that they are not worth anything . This book is the perfect example that they are actually really valuable . The idea that “ language and religion are tools for conquering nations “ is true and depicted really well in this story.
P.S: descriptions of meta verse reminded me of the trailer for the Matrix 4 where Neo walks in a street made of binary code .
Originally gave it 3 stars, mostly because, even though it’s necessary to the plot, I didn’t really care about the Sumerian mythology stuff which took up a good chunk of the book.
Now, I’m giving it 4 stars. The characters were just so interesting and likable, and the Cyberpunk setting pretty much makes up for it that I could somewhat overlook it.
Now, I’m giving it 4 stars. The characters were just so interesting and likable, and the Cyberpunk setting pretty much makes up for it that I could somewhat overlook it.
Fine for light bed time reading but also a little TOO light. Thin on ideas, characters, dialogue, plot, everything except the geeky stuff. Gadgets are described in meticulous detail; emotional connections are not. Cyberpunk stuff is fun, but I need something more. Stephenson also defends his reputation for terrible endings here. Geez, those last few chapters did this book no favors.
overall - a really fun ride, I was impressed by the creativity in the settings, technologies, and sequences of Snow Crash. I wasn't impressed by how flat all the characters were, how they all seemed hardly more than a cobbling together of cliches and stereotypes. All that aside, it was a great story to soak up over winter break.
Hiro has resigned from his job as a pizza delivery guy, and is going back to his first career as a tech scavenger. He is the creator of The Black Sun, a virtual street, and wrote the rule book for the metaverse. There is a new virtual drug in town, Snow Crash, that not only works as a computer virus. but leaps the boundaries and physically affects the owners of the avatars.
There is lots to like about this book, Stephenson has written a futuristic thriller that mixes tech with a new social order. There are some cool action scenes and I like the seamless way that people interact with the web. Some of the concepts, like the way that the Fedland (the FBI) works, and the way that the street culture has been conceived is superb, but I didn't think that the plot was that great, with lots of unnecessary complexity and parts that didn't make sense.
This was published in 1992 and things have moved on some what since then, so it did feel dated. In lots of ways it reminded me of Neuromancer, as it was an imagined future, and I think if i had read it shortly after publication it would have been dazzling, but now it is just good.
It is well worth reading if you haven't, as I think it can now be considered a Scifi classic.
There is lots to like about this book, Stephenson has written a futuristic thriller that mixes tech with a new social order. There are some cool action scenes and I like the seamless way that people interact with the web. Some of the concepts, like the way that the Fedland (the FBI) works, and the way that the street culture has been conceived is superb, but I didn't think that the plot was that great, with lots of unnecessary complexity and parts that didn't make sense.
This was published in 1992 and things have moved on some what since then, so it did feel dated. In lots of ways it reminded me of Neuromancer, as it was an imagined future, and I think if i had read it shortly after publication it would have been dazzling, but now it is just good.
It is well worth reading if you haven't, as I think it can now be considered a Scifi classic.
