Snow Crash

best. book. ever.

"Snow Crash" rocks. What else can you say about a book published in 1992 featuring a heroic protagonist named Hiro Protagonist that incorporated pizza delivery franchises, ninjas, punk rock, linguistics, skateboarding, avatars, mafiosi, glass knives, and gated communities ... and managed to be prescient and coherent without being absurd? I've read thousands of books, and have never found one more engaging than this.

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Great story, even better when you realize what year it was written

Stephenson wrote this book in the late 80's / very early 90's. If you read the book (which is a really great read even if it were written recently) with that in mind, it will give you an extra appreciation for the feats of imagination contained within. The "internets" as our fearless leader would call it was certainly in existence at that time, but people, it was accessed via character based, pre-Windows, menu driven applications!

The story starts with a sci-fi futuristic bang but builds into a really compelling drama/mystery that just gets more and more interesting while introducing one great futuristic notion after another. Eventually he ends up dealing with the origin of human language, the Bible, the Mafia, corporate America, skater culture...but it's not all over the place. It's brilliant.

I've given this book to at least 10 people, and every last one of them loved it. A slam dunk any time but especially for holiday/summer/travel reading.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

A great cyberpunk novel

While browsing through my local B&N I saw this one on the shelf and it caught my eye. I had seen Cryptonomicon before but didn't know if the author's writing style would appeal to me. I decided to start with Snow Crash since it was shorter and the synopsis sounded, well, cool. Like others have said, the beginning is confusing with all the new terminology but by the end of the first chapter I was hooked. I found myself frequently laughing out loud while reading and the middle section's Sumerian Myth lessons were very interesting. I was simply blown away by every aspect of this book. Well, except the ending which was too short. I felt like it needed at least another 10 pages of wrap-up. Because of this the ending seemed a little too 'neat' for such a crazy roller coaster of a story. But I'd read this again any day, it's better than most books on the shelves these days.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

joyful romp

A joyful romp in American near sci-fi. Truly one of the best

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

One of my favorites

I recieved this book as a gift several years ago, and I've recommended it to most of my friends. Whether you take the time it was written into consideration or not, the story is compelling. I thoroughly enjoyed the tech described in the book, and I am continually amazed how close Stephenson came to several current products.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great

This book shows a great view of a hyper consumerist, dystopian USA. Worth the read

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great!

Excellent hard cyber punk

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Genius

Stephenson is really a gifted author. The scope of the novel is epic, the characters well developed, and the plot well conceiced. Bravo.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Wow! I could not put it down.

I don't read much fiction but a friend loaned me her copy and I was blown away. The depth of the story and characters is amazing. Stop wondering and buy the book. You won't want it to end.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

privatization run amok in near future

Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom did it for projecting worst-case into the future about on-line reputation and competition. Snow Crash does it for privatization of public services and the decline of American life. But somehow this comes off as fun, punk, optimistic about the fate of strong individuals and insightful about the nature of everything from the origins of human languages to the hazards of sword-fighting as an online avatar. It's a rush just commenting on this, even though I'm years behind the curve after the novel's original publish date. Next one for me, despite some ambiguous reviews, should be Neal Stephenson's new one, "Reamde," another one of those books where alternative lifestyles can also refer to our alter egos online. Why is the future of the world and humanity always at stake?

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Fascinating book...

Even though the book is recommended on top ### lists for Sci-Fi/Fantasy, the book is more about a number of other topics, including religion and human growth.

Neal Stephenson is a fantastic writer who was able to create anti-heroes you couldn't help but root for. Another enjoyable work from the author.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Classic

I got hooked on this book in the first few paragraphs and remained hooked all the way till the end. Its inventive, fun, and flows seamlessly. A must read for any fan of Cyber Punk.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I am not worthy. I am not worthy. I am not worthy.

I am not worthy. I am not worthy. I am not worthy. I am not worthy. I am not worthy etc. etc. etc.......I think you get it.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

great read

this was an amazing read. Every time I meet someone who likes sci-fi novels, I recommend this book! Even though there is a lot of religious/myth references that sometimes seem confusing, it was still exciting!! A definite must-read!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Top 10 all time

This is one of very few books that i have read multiple times. Excellent. It transcends the genre.

I LOVE this book. Some of the stuff seems a little dated, but i

I LOVE this book. Some of the stuff seems a little dated, but it's so funny I just have to go back and re-read it every so often. It's one of the best SF books I've read, let alone in the cyberpunk genre.

Meh.

It's no Cryptonomicon. The only thing that really explains this book to me is that it was originally conceived as a graphic novel.

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Best book ever

Read this

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

prophetic

Read the first few pages. You'll be amazed at how prophetic stephenson was about the internet and today's world. Astounding.

Totally worth the read

Why sre you still reading thIs review?

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.