Like many of stephensons other novels it covers history, linguistics, anthropology, archaeology, religion, computer science, politics, cryptography, memetics and philosophy stephenson explained the title of the novel in his 1999 essay in the beginning. Snow crash npr coverage of snow crash by neal stephenson. The theme for march was cyberpunk and we all chose snow crash to read and. This book was a quick read and the author was definitely not a material scientist. To the extent that a book can be described as original, snow crash, by neal stephenson is deserving of the moniker. It is a world where the mafia controls pizza delivery, the united states exists as a patchwork of corporatefranchise city states, and the internetincarnate as the metaverselooks something like last years hype would lead you to believe it should. By stephen northcutt this is not the sort of book i would normally read. Stephenson has also mentioned that julian jaynes book the origin of consciousness in the breakdown of the bicameral mind was one of the main influences on snow crash. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of snow crash by neal stephenson. Stephenson now resides in a comfortable home in the western hemisphere and spends all of his time trying to retrofit an office into its generally dark, unlevel, and asbestosladen basement so that he can.
Read it snow crash by neal stephenson research it with articles. You will never again look at toilet paper quite the same way afterwards. By using our website you agree to our use of cookies. Possibly the bestknown book by neal stephenson, snow crash is the tale of a swordslinging hacker who teams up with an extreme skateboarder in a post cyber punk disincorporated usa to fight snow crash a computer virus for the brain.
Snow crash 1992, which helped earn the word cyberpunk a place in history, is set in the nottoodistant future where the mafia controls pizza delivery, the u. Snow crash by neal stephenson, 9780241953181, available at book depository with free. One of times 100 best englishlanguage novels a mindaltering romp through a future america so bizarre, so outrageous, youll recognize it immediately only once in a great while does a writer come along who defies comparisona writer so original he. It is a world where the mafia controls pizza delivery, the united states exists as a patchwork of corporatefranchise citystates, and the internetincarnate as the metaverselooks something like last years hype would lead you to believe it should. This snow crash thingis it a virus, a drug, or a religion. The book appeared on time magazines list of 100 alltime best englishlanguage novels written since 1923. About the only common ground that his work shares with others is that ink is applied to paper using the same letters, and then pages are bound to create a book. But now a strange new computer virus called snow crash. One of times 100 best englishlanguage novels a mindaltering romp through a future america so bizarre, so outrageous, youll recognize it immediately only once in a great while does a writer come along who defies comparisona writer so original he redefines the way we look at the world.
Book depository is the worlds most international online bookstore offering over 20 million books with free delivery worldwide. Comedy and drama are well entwined throughout, neither detracting from the overall mood and pace of the book and the protagonists are well drawn. In a major city, the size of a dozen manhattans, is a domain of pleasures limited only by the imagination. Fifteen years since its initial release, snow crash remains one of the most popular and important novels in recent memory. Read the book, stream the movie, and get articles and books about snow crash. Trouble is snow crash is also a computer virus and something more. Im not sure how many of you play video games, but he reminded me of colonol campbell from the metal gear solid games. Not just due to the writing style and the content of the book, but this book takes the cyberpunk to a whole new height.
If you are a cyberpunk fan, you need to read this book. Oh, and theres a badass biker with glass knives and a nuclear bomb strapped to his motorbike, too apart from its frenetic action sequences and overt use of. The deliverator belongs to an elite order, a hallowed subcategory. The snow crash community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. The ideas in that book, and in most good science fiction, are what set it apart. This study guide consists of approximately 81 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of snow crash. From the opening line of his breakthrough cyberpunk novel snow crash, neal stephenson plunges the reader into a nottoodistant future. Snow crash is a smart, cool, funny, witty, and actionpacked adventure featuring a pair of unlikely heroes who must save the world from infocalypse. If we say that this book is one of its kind then it will not be wrong.
Snow crash is about a seemingly revolutionary idea and sf is, at its best, about an idea the possibility that our cerebral faculty, or minds and hence our behavior, can be compromised i. It is the near future and donald trump is president, thus ruining the word trump forever, also civilization. If i were forced to make a decision as to which book is better ready player one or snow crash, i would pick snow crash with little to no hesitation. Both alaska and the stranger had taken my life and plunged it into an icy river and made me feel when i hadnt even known id been numb.
Snow crash is neal stephensons third novel, published in 1992. Is it any wonder that most sane folks have forsaken the real world and chosen to live in the computergenerated universe of virtual reality. Science fiction, cyberpunk, dystopian my book club has started a new initiative to read a book each month from a different subgenre of science fiction or fantasy. Its fine to not enjoy reading a book, but maybe you need a little perspective here. Snow crash neal stephenson bantam books new york toronto london sydney auckland contents title page chapter 1 chapter 2 chapter 3 chapter 4 chapter 5 chapter 6 chapter 7 chapter 8 chapter 9 chapter 10 chapter 11 chapter 12 chapter chapter 14 chapter 15 chapter 16 chapter 17 chapter 18 chapter 19 chapter 20 chapter 21 chapter 22. Snow crash is a 1992 science fiction novel by neal stephenson. Snow crash project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Stephenson turns out to be an engaging guide to an onrushing tomorrow. Snow crash is a cross between neuromancer and thomas pynchons vineland. Were clever, but not nearly clever enough to condense his style into brief chapter. Before the chapter actually starts, we get dictionarystyle definitions of the words snow, crash, and virus. Snow crash is not only very entertaining, it has a series of clever twists and a strong back story that set it aside from many science fiction stories. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. Praise for snow crash snow crash is a cross between neuromancer and thomas pynchons vineland.
Neal stephenson is the author of the threevolume historical epic the baroque cycle quicksilver, the confusion and the system of the world as well as the novels cryptonomicon, the diamond age winner of a hugo award, snow crash, zodiac, anathem and reamde. One of times 100 best englishlanguage novels a mindaltering romp through a future america so bizarre. If you enjoy rollercoaster rides, snow crash is definitely for you. Order from disorder in william gibsons all tomorrows parties and neal stephensons snow crash melanie a. Also, just to note, stephenson is an immensely entertaining author, prone to polysyllabic fits of metaphorical fancy that make his prose as amusing as watching a drunk penguin try to tapdance. Readers from all over the world will find how meticulously this novel actually is in terms of predicting the human reactions to technological progression. Where neuromancer fails to anticipate the path of technology, snow crash is much more accurate. Since 1984, stephenson has lived generally in the pacific northwest and right now dwells in seattle with his family. Its universe is very well developed and consistent, its knowledge of semantics and the computer world top notch. Basically, it all came apart in the second part of the book which also sports a rushed i can only see this book as a score of missed opportunities. Snow crash was written in the years 1988 through 1991 as the author listened to a great deal of loud, relentless, depressing music. I tend to be older and more conservative than what i suspect the target audience is, but i feel the richer for having read snow crash. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Newly available on the street the metaverses main drag is snow crash, a cyberdrug.
The story centers around a phenomena known as snow. Snow crash is written in a wonderful cyberpunk patois with inventive use of turn and phrase. First off the narrator jonathan davis is wonderful. In order to navigate out of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key to navigate to the next or previous heading. The san francisco bay guardian fastforward freestyle mall mythology for the twentyfirst century. One of times 100 best englishlanguage novels a mindaltering romp through a future america so bizarre, so outrageous, youll recognize it. Free delivery worldwide on over 20 million books we use cookies to give you the best possible experience.
Hiro protagonist, freelance hacker and the greatest sword fighter in the metaverse, teams up with y. Snow crash is a mindaltering romp through a future america so bizarre, so outrageous. Snow crash by neal stephenson and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The only relief from the sea of logos is within the wellguarded borders of the burbclaves. Dick, anthony burgess and john brunner, written 8 years after neuromancer and 19 years before ready player one this is a bright light on the cyberpunk literary landscape. Page 1 of 1 start over page 1 of 1 this shopping feature will continue to load items when the enter key is pressed. The book is let down by its poor plot on a par with a bad james bond movie two questionable scenes in my mind, and a particularly unbelievable resolution of the snow crash mystery. Snow crash was written in 1992 and can be categorized as a science fiction novel with an incredible storyline. According to wikipedia, snow crash is a science fiction novel written by neal stephenson and published in 1992. I went through most of it in audibook form, and i just have to say it was an absolutely amazing experience. Anyway, its hard to explain but this book was just so right to me. Because once taken it infects the person behind the avatar.