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 expect, and makes William Gibson's cyberspace seem cartoonish and fake (in all fairness to Gibson, Neromancer was written long before the internet was the way it is now).
Me being a UNIX systems analyst, and an former online gaming junkie, I absolutely loved the Metaverse, with its coded rules, gorilla daemons and cleanup daemons. Very cool stuff and very, um, realistic,
from a sys-admin's point of view. Oh, and the Rat-things rocked.

Very entertaining novel, however, it was missing some key ingredients that constitute a must-read for me.
For one, I felt complete apathy towards the characters. I also wasn't overly keen on the story development, and the drawn-out Sumerian mythology was getting tiresome. Normally when theology mixes with science fiction I'm glued to the pages, but somehow I was rapidly losing interest here. Snow Crash is a favorite for many though, and I can't not recommend it. Try it for yourself. If you're still hanging in with rapt attention halfway through, you'll enjoy the whole thing.

DNF @ 15%

Alright, so this is doing absolutely nothing for me. It's dense with tech lingo & not incredibly compelling & so maybe I'll come back to it later.

6.0 stars. On my list of All Time Favorite novels. While reading this book, I was constantly thinking to myself "WOW, what a great concept" and "HOW did Stephenson think that up?" Without giving away too much in the way of spoilers, I was particularly amazed at the way the author took computers, vitual reality and the metaverse and tied it into ancient religions, philosophy and the origin of language. I thought this aspect of the novel was absolutely mind-boggling. Add to that a great anti-hero, a superb villain (actually several villains) and a brilliantly detailed and quirky view of a dystopian future and you have a one of kind reading experience. HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION!!!!

Nominee: British Science Fiction Award for Best Novel
Nominee: Arthur C. Clarke Award for Best SF Novel
Nominee: Locus Award for Best SF Novel
Nominee: Prometheus Award for Best Novel

I need to re-read this book soon, as from time to time I think of it, the wild plot, the strange characters, which when I first read it seemed sci-fi absurd (but great!), but now seem real. At times I think we are living in the metaverse which Stephenson coined. And the homeless (sort of, as he lived in a U-store-it container) hero who connects to the metaverse because it is so much better than his "real" life. A classic already.

This book is awful. Never ever read it. It's mastubatory shit written by a self-absorbed pseudo academic with a lolita syndrome or ephebophilia. I can't really decide which. Read Neuromancer instead.

I absolutely LOVED this book. In a way, I'm glad that I didn't read it back when it was first published, because I never would've "gotten" it. It's hilarious and mind-blowing. From the first page to the last, I was amazed at just how much influence this book has had in TV, movies, etc.

This is definitely one of my "OMG, you HAVE to read this!" books.

Βαθμολογία: 9/10

Το Snow Crash ήταν ένα από τα πολλά βιβλία -Επιστημονικής Φαντασίας και μη- που είχα σε μια λίστα με φοβερά και ενδιαφέροντα πλην όμως αμετάφραστα στα ελληνικά βιβλία που ήθελα πάρα μα πάρα πολύ να διαβάσω κάποια στιγμή, και χάρη στις εκδόσεις Μέδουσα το συγκεκριμένο Κυβερνοπάνκ τουβλάκι διεγράφη πέρυσι τον Νοέμβριο από τη σχετική λίστα. Και τώρα που έσφιξαν οι ζέστες, αποφάσισα επιτέλους να το πάρω απόφαση και να κάτσω να το διαβάσω.

Τι επικό έπος ήταν αυτό; Ο συγγραφέας κατάφερε και χώρεσε μέσα σ'ένα βιβλίο ένα κάρο παλαβές και ενδιαφέρουσες ιδέες, ένα κάρο παλαβούς και ενδιαφέροντες χαρακτήρες, με μια πλοκή γεμάτη κουλές αλλά συνάμα συναρπαστικές καταστάσεις. Ο αναγνώστης θα χορτάσει πληροφορία: Σουμερική μυθολογία, μπόλικη γλωσσολογία, κάμποση τεχνολογία του μέλλοντος, λίγο από φιλοσοφία και θρησκειολογία, με λίγα λόγια ένα σωρό ενδιαφέροντα πραγματάκια. Το θέμα όμως είναι ότι όλα αυτά δεν κουράζουν στο βαθμό που θα περίμενε κανείς, διαβάζονται ευχάριστα και με ενδιαφέρον, χάρη στην όλη χαβαλετζίδικη διάθεση της ιστορίας, την όλη τρέλα που διαπνέει την πλοκή και τους χαρακτήρες.

Η γραφή του Στίβενσον είναι πραγματικά πολύ καλή και αρκετά ευκολοδιάβαστη, σε μεγάλο βαθμό θα την χαρακτήριζα και πολύ εθιστική. Οι περιγραφές των διαφόρων καταστάσεων, των χαρακτήρων και των τοπίων είναι πραγματικά μοναδικές και ιδιαίτερες, σε μπάζουν με περισσή ευκολία στην αναρχοκαπιταλιστική Αμερικ�� του μέλλ��ντος, η οποία αποτελείται από περιφραγμένες κοινότητες και ατελείωτες λεωφόρους γεμάτες φραντσάιζ και ιδιωτικούς στρατούς. Πιστεύω, άλλωστε, ότι το πιο δυνατό κομμάτι του βιβλίου είναι ο διπλός κόσμος που δημιούργησε ο Στίβενσον, τόσο ο Πραγματικός, όσο και ο Εικονικός, με το εξαιρετικά συναρπαστικό Μετασύμπαν. Επίσης, οι διάφοροι χαρακτήρες είναι πραγματικά ένας κι ένας, και ας φέρνουν λίγο σε καρικατούρες.

Είναι μερικά βιβλία που πριν τα διαβάσω, είμαι απόλυτα σίγουρος ότι θα με ξετρελάνουν, ότι θα με κάνουν να τα σκέπτομαι πολλές μέρες μετά την ανάγνωσή τους. Ε, ένα από αυτά τα βιβλία είναι και το Snow Crash, για το οποίο είχα υψηλές προσδοκίες, οι οποίες επιβεβαιώθηκαν πανηγυρικά. Δεν το συζητάω, είναι από τα πιο ψυχαγωγικά, ενδιαφέροντα και καλογραμμένα μυθιστορήματα επιστημονικής φαντασίας που είχα την τύχη να διαβάσω. Πάντως, σίγουρα είναι ένα βιβλίο που θέλει την προσοχή, αλλά ακόμα και την υπομονή του αναγνώστη, για να μην χάσει την μπάλα. Τέλος, λόγω των διαφόρων ιδιαιτεροτήτων του, δεν πιστεύω ότι είναι για όλα τα αναγνωστικά γούστα.

3½ out of 5 stars

This is one of those books you should read with a group. There's a lot to dissect and you'll wish you had people to discuss it with. I read it for a book club and was amazed at people's reactions to all the different things thrown into the story. My little group had many interesting discussions and one that got us kicked out of a cafe. Not because of anything we said, more because of how loud we got. So perhaps this book isn't the best for public spaces.

The story opens with a high-octane pizza delivery chase scene that could very well give you whiplash. The whirlwind pace of the narration doesn't last though—fortunately or unfortunately? It slows down to a more manageable speed after establishing an adequate sense of the world, and then it moves on to expanding characters and plot lines.

The world of Snow Crash is set in a near-apocalyptic future that's entrenched in corruption and violence and controlled by technology. Much of the world is divided into segregated enclaves, many of them run by global corporations and interest groups—sounds familiar, yes? Everything is highly controlled and regulated, except for the groups in power doing all the controlling and regulating. Entering new enclaves without proper documentation can get a person shot on the spot.

Main events kick off with Hiro Protagonist—ha ha—on his way to deliver a pizza in record time or else. Like borders, pizza is also a serious business run by the mob in this world. Everything is serious business in this world, though very tongue in cheek. The pizza delivery sequence lasts about a couple of chapters and then the story moves online to the metaverse—live-action internet—and onto the mystery that is Snow Crash.

Snow Crash is a virus that renders systems, both virtual and physiological, incapacitated after an individual comes into direct contact with it. Someone, or a group of someones, has been sending this virus out, via decoys in the metaverse, to take out high-profile hackers.

There's a huge conspiracy simmering at the heart of this story because that's what happens in stories about impending apocalypse. I won't even attempt to sum up the rest of story, mostly because I'm not sure what to make of it.

The tone is very...there's certainly a late-80s/early-90s feel to it. If you recall blue chip technology and the early days of the internet with fond memories, you'll enjoy the early chapters. They bring back a certain "charm" I associate with that era.

Most of the fun of reading this book is in Stephenson's use of language, which gives rise to a romping narrating style. He made up most, if not all, of the metaverse lingo, and I think he even predicted how we'd speak of the internet, about the internet, in the internet, while on the internet. If the narration had kept the speed and rhythm of the pizza delivery scene going throughout the story, this easily would have been a 5-star rating. Easily. Because any book that can maintain such a pace for 470 pages while telling a somewhat coherent story deserves a standing ovation.

On the other hand, info dumps, info dumps everywhere. This book is essentially a series of info-dumps squeezed into a story about IT and inherent systems failure. Stephenson's version of a near-apocalyptic world is hilarious on the surface, but once you delve deeper into the story, you'll see he's raised a lot of fundamental issues to the surface. He doesn't specifically take a stand on anything, I don't think, and lets readers come to their own conclusions. I can't say what these issues/narratives are exactly because, from my book club experience (screaming matches and all), interpretations vary across readers and individual experiences. Everyone takes something away from the story, and we pick and choose the issues that stand out most to us. The linguistic hook was what reeled me in; everything else was just a bonus.

This story doesn't actually have an ending. It just cuts off abruptly. Just something to kept in mind. Made me think I bought a defective copy.

Flash and gimmicks aside, is this book worth reading? Yes, I think so. Highly recommended for when you're stuck at the airport or family functions, or stuck anywhere really, and you want the hours to fly by.

It's important to know an author's political standings/leanings/inklings/opinions/involvement before diving into a text. I would've liked to know where Stephenson stands on immigration because context, especially in light of a story such as this, is everything.

Also, there's no denying this book is a nerd power ballad.

Cross-posted over at
https://covers2covers.wordpress.com/2...

me lu lu mu al nu um me en ki me en me lu lu mu me al nu um me al nu um me me mu lu e al nu um me dug ga mu me mu lu e al nu um me...

My Neal Stephenson reading has been all backwards. The first one I read was Cryptonomicon, then the Baroque Cycle and then Anathem. So going back to one of his earlier and 'simpler' novels seemed like it'd be a breeze after having to practically learn a fictional language to finish Anathem.

While Snow Crash may have some more familiar sci-fi tropes (hackers, skateboarders and virtual reality are now almost stereotypes although I'm sure it seemed fresh in '92 when this was written), it still has the brain-bustin' Stephenson style theories in it.

In this case, his whole premise of ancient Sumerian languages as an audio virus was definately something that took a lot of explanation, and it's those types of intricate ideas that make Stephenson one of my favorites.

But the other thing I love about Stephenson is that he can explain this crazy theory for page after page until you forget about everything else in the book, and then the next chapter will have an epic action scene with swords, gatling guns, and a variety of other near-future weapons.

Terrific book. And I think there's probably a lot of material written or filmed since '92 that should probably cut Stephenson a royalty check. I'm looking at you, Matrix!

First published in 1992, Snow Crash is considered one of the seminal cyber-punk novels. I wasn’t even sure what that meant when I picked it up; I plucked it from the stacks at the used bookstore with the vague feeling this was one of those classics I’m supposed to have read. For once, the inside voice was right–this was a book I didn’t want to miss.

The opening scene of a mad-cap pizza delivery quickly draws the reader in. Hiro Protagonist (cringe), thirty year-old hacker, chronically unsuited for the career-track, has now found his longest term employment delivering pizzas for the Mafia, who now run pizza chains along with more dubious enterprises. He’s racing against the clock, trying to get the pizza delivered so Uncle Enzo, spokesman and Don, doesn’t have to apologize and give up a whole wad of cash. His delivery credentials get him through most of the gated suburbs, but a short cut lands him in deep water. Thankfully, a skateboarder who was hitching a lift using a special skater harpoon takes pity on him and completes the delivery with seconds to spare. Her actions bring her to the attention of Uncle Enzo. Hiro’s actions, unfortunately cost him his job, but it isn’t long before his genius ex-girlfriend recruits him to find a virus that’s wiping computers clean–and hackers’ minds.

That’s just the first few pages. It goes on to involve a shared computer simulation, religious evangelicals, an ear-destroying rock concert, a sociopath on a motorcycle, a fusion-powered attack dog and a floating raft-like armada.

Three and a half static-y stars

*********************************

Unfortunately, my windy and critical review will have to be continued someplace permanent, where it won't be deleted.
Find it at:


http://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2014/0...

or

http://carols.booklikes.com/post/7602...

This book was seriously impressive.

Hiro Protagonist (the name alone is so deliciously self-aware) is a hacker and a pizza delivery driver in real life and some version of a prince / hero fighter in the virtual.
For in this futuristic Los Angeles (still 21st century though), the VR is at least as real and part of human life as RR (regular reality). Especially ever since the economy crashed. Oh and there is no law anymore. In fact, LA is no longer part of the USA at all since the "government" started selling territory to private organizations. Thus, there are quasi-sovereign gated communities and enclaves known as FOQNEs (Franchise-Organized Quasi-National Entities). One such FOQNE is the Italo-American Mafia that Hiro works for.
One really interesting development in this weird future America was what had become of the Library of Congress after merging with what used to be the CIA. *lol*
It is therefore no surprise that Hiro meets Italian mobsters as much as former love-interests, who code specific elements of the VR, and a special courier, all while uncovering a scheme to "infect" society with a special form of virus that could up-end the world as he knows it.
In an essay in 1999, Stephenson explained that the title of the novel is the term for a particular software failure mode on the early Macintosh computer. So you know what calamity to expect. Especially considering how reliant everyone is on tech and VR here (yes, even more than nowadays).
Anyway, it's not just something that will make the lights go out, it can have very dangerous or even lethal effects on a person's body in RR.

I LOVED the blend of futuristic tech, a dystopian world, Sumerion mythology (Tower of Babel) and more. It seems the author is very good at and interested in blending history with linguistics, politics, philosophy and - here - computer science. I mean, this book was published in 1992 and he coined the word Metaverse. Take THAT, Zuckerberg!

Seriously, everyone was quirky and the world almost disorientingly weird, but I enjoyed every second I got to spend with the characters - be it uncle Enzo or the discoveries made thanks to the library or Lagos.

We even get quite some impressive fighting when Hiro, helped by uncle Enzo and his goons, boards Rife's raft/yacht to free YT and stop Rife's nefarious plans. Not to mention the boss fight (there is no other way to describe it) between Raven and uncle Enzo at the airport. That was some breathstopping action!

In short: this is pretty much a perfect book no matter from which angle you look at it. And it obviously influenced A LOT of other authors who subsequently created very similar stories. Funnily enough, I was reading this while learning of Apple's new product, "visionPro", which in turn triggered me to think of the awesome possibilities on the excited side and the potential negative implications on the dystopian side. Which made for an even more special feel while reading this book. *lol*