Snow Crash - Neal Stephenson Book Review

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"Snow Crash"
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Review Summaries
"A crazy rebel computer hacker/pizza delivery ninja for Cosa Nostra Pizza loses his job and goes on a wild ride involving virtual reality, a smart-ass skateboarding teenage messenger chick, the mafia, ancient civilizations, cults, an AI and all around weirdness. " Euphoria, Resident Neal Stephenson Scholar
"Ostensibly a pizza delivery guy, Hiroaki Protagonist is really a super computer hacker, speed metal concert promoter, and master swordsman. North America has been divided between various power franchises, from the former Federal government to Hong Kong, Mafia, Colombian, and even religious-based service industries. Y.T., a 16-year-old female skateboard Kourier, is the other hero of this astounding tale, which involves action in cyberspace (the "Metaverse," peopled by "avatars" created by computer jocks) as well as speed-obsessed LA and the Pacific Ocean, where the former U.S.S. Enterprise -- now privately owned -- is lashed to a supertanker and a huge web of assorted boats know as the Raft. Through it all flows Snow Crash, a combination drug, computer virus, and mystical language/religion that goes back to ancient Sumer and the cult of Asherah. The cast is also huge, from Hiro ("Hero Protagonist," get it?)'s old girlfriend Juanita Marquez, to Mafia chieftain and Vietnam vet "Uncle Enzo," to the massive Aleut killer "Raven," and a wonderful robot dog. Stephenson thinks through his future scenarios as much as William Gibson, but this book is much funnier -- somehow more cartoonlike because of its action and settings, yet with richer, fuller characterizations." David Loftus, Resident Neal Stephenson Scholar
"Snow Crash almost defies description, being a combination of a cyber-mystery and philosophical/historical debate. It draws on things from virtual reality to Sumerian mythology, from neurology to linguistics. Truly amazing" Karen, Resident Neal Stephenson Scholar

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Overall Review

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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 70%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 10%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10%

Tone of book - cynical or dry-wit
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Tech./$$$/Info hunt Yes
Stealing/recovering/destroying - computer/database
Robots, Computers, VR Yes
Robot, PC, VR Plotlets: - virtual reality
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Age: - 20's-30's
Eccentric: Yes
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Physique - very athletic

Setting
Earth setting: - near future (later in 21st century)
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - actual description of sex

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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).

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