Snow Crash Paperback – May 2, 2000

Interesting story, but a very dense read

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Jessica P

June 7, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. After having finished Ready Player One somewhat recently before reading this, I marveled at the similarities considering the books were written something like 25 years apart. And the fact that this one was written in the early 90s is not lost on me, as there were many futuristic components that are eerily similar to what we have in our world today.

The biggest downfall of me was that this book was so incredibly dense. On the one hand, Stephenson created a fictional world based on the real world where I live (Los Angeles) and described it with immense detail. (And I can totally see the city/country heading this way, btw.) But on the other hand, there was so much description to slog through that I found myself re-reading some things over and over trying to absorb it and not always quite getting it. Definitely a gripping story overall, but was left many times confused as to what was going on.

Plus In the end, there were many questions left unanswered, but it is what it is. Would still recommend it for anyone who likes Futuristic Sci Fi.

6 people found this helpful

Snow crashed and burned and flew into pieces.

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TripsUpStairs

February 19, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I absolutely love SF, but Snow Crash was probably the worst case of "information overload" I've ever attempted to read. Like others have said, the ideas presented are amazing, but Stephenson's presentation of them is more or less a clusterf**k. His characters are woefully unmotivated by anything but his ideas, and the pure amount of slang that isn't explained makes reading this confusing and frustrating. I cannot recommend this book when there are so many others out there that are digestible and have a plot that isn't just a Frankenstein's monster of ideas clumsily stitched together.

12 people found this helpful

I was amazed that the book was written in the early 90s

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Dennis Koenig

August 28, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

When I read Snow Crash, I was amazed that the book was written in the early 90s. It accurately describes many of the technologies we now not only have, but have access to every day. For this alone, it is worth a read. Stephenson predicted a lot of what we now take for granted in day to day life and it is really kind of awesome.

From a prose stand point, this is not the easiest book to read. There is plenty of tech jargon (some of it made up) and a lot of linguistics vocabulary you might need to parse as you are reading. Also, his description of the corporate states is a little head scratching at first, but I feel pretty confident in saying that if you ignore it early on, you'll get it by the end.

Otherwise, it is an entertaining yarn. I didn't like it as much the 2nd time I read it, but I still think it is a very good book.

2 people found this helpful

Aged in places, but fine work

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Synapse001

January 17, 2018

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

The work has agreed and it shows in some small details, like payphones and in some bigger details like franchise expansion. The worst problem is YTs age and sexual assault. Reading it when I was 26 years old, I didn't notice, now it's blatant and shines like the loglo of a in novel franchellete and is painfully glaring.
As for the story, it still feels solid with the tech still holding its own which is saying something for a science fiction story that is nearly 25 years old. I'd love to see a modern rewrite like John Scalzi did with Fuzzy Nation. Our even if Neal would do it again. I'd love to see it as the 1000 page more nuanced story that he is capable of now.

One person found this helpful

A Classic that needs to be made into a series.

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Michael Beverly

May 30, 2018

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I just read this again for the second time after having read it first about a year ago.
First off....someone needs to make this into a series.
Please.
It's a great story and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the cyberpunk type science fiction.
The only complaint about this work will be that the author gets into a bit of a detailed description that some people might find slow, but he does it in little chunks, so it's doable.
The action-adventure stuff is great and fast moving.
The "coming-of-age" aspect is good, the dual hero aspect is really well done.
The villains are terrible.
The tech is great to read about.
Highly recommend this.

I'm not going to bore you with my poor writing trying to try and convey whats in the ...

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avgjoegeek

May 3, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Although it was written awhile ago - it still holds together well for a possible near future for America. Very well written - its a crazy wild ride with Hiro Protagonist and the gang. I'm not going to bore you with my poor writing trying to try and convey whats in the book. If you enjoy sci-fi action? Then just get the book and read it already. You won't be let down.

2 people found this helpful

An extremely fun story wrapped up in Sumerian mythology with samurai swords, futuristic internet surfing, thrashers, and the Mafia.Read more

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