Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson

I just finished Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash last night and I'm torn. I actually enjoyed the book for the most part, but it had some serious problems which destroyed the flow and took you out of the world he created with such care.

First of all, let me tell you about the premise. The idea here is that there is a computer virus that is also a biological virus and someone has discovered this and is using it to his advantage. Now this is all well and good, but instead of working this seamlessly in to the story, he creates this artificial construct (a digital librarian) for one of the protagonists (by the name of Hiro Protagonist -- groan) to talk with about this convoluted idea. I do not like this "discourse" technique, and it disrupts the flow in this otherwise action packed novel.

There are other issues -- some of the blood and guts go too far in my opinion -- but otherwise the concepts he proposes here are interesting. And the thing is, any *one* on the many concepts could have been developed into a great story, but instead he has thrown them all into one novel. Too much.

Hiro -- a sword wielding hacker -- and Y.T. -- a skateboarding courier -- are tough, likeable characters. And the adrenalin filled action scenes are worth slogging through the other stuff, in my opinion.  

If you haven't read Stephenson yet, start with the incredibly awesome Anathem. If you have read everything by him and crave more, give Snow Crash a try. It's a bad ass, wild ride.

Comments

[Mama Urchin]

I think I've read almost all of Stephenson's books and I agree anathem is the best. I think snow crash suffers the same flaw as all the rest, he takes a very long time to develop the storyline/characters and then wraps it all up in 50 pages.

[carolyn]

we've talked about this right: you've read Cryptonomicon? (Which I personally think is fantastic.)

[Jessica]

Oooh! Carolyn beat me to it but I was going to say you have to start with Cryptonomicon and then Anathem and then Diamond Age and THEN Snow Crash.

Just my opinion :)

I don't think I've ever been so eager to de-lurk as I was today. What is it about Stephenson that does that to me? I love your blogs (chocolate rocks) and the fact that you and I have very similar taste in books. Thank you for being one of my daily reads!

[Annie]

I agree with Carolyn and Jessica--Cryptonomicon is my favorite as well. Snow Crash reminded me a bit of Moby Dick with the discourse, but Moby Dick is another one of my all-time favs, so....