スノウ・クラッシュ

A cross between the matrix and Indiana jones. Lots of action. The explanation of the world from a politics perspective is prett warped. Corps may run the government but the government isn't another Corp. that part needed some more of xplanation

I enjoyed the conversations with the Librarian--the religious/historic events and how they intertwine and shed light on the issue at hand. I was hooked with style of the first chapter about the Deliverator (and later the chapter from the doggie's POV). Aside from doggie-POV, it was confusing why the author employed such differing writing styles in different chapters. Overall, I kept having the feeling that I didn't know where the plot was going. You could argue that's a good thing (e.g it's unpredictable), but I just never felt like I got the "point" of the book. It was entertaining in many places.

This is a book that should be tailor made for me. Computers, near future, interesting and unique characters, pretentious history stuff, lots of action. So, why did I find myself not getting very excited by it? Though the book is considered a classic of modern science fiction, and has a lot going for it, I found it a read that just never did capture my attention. It was easy to put down and didn't draw me back very well. The big fault was the massive history lesson and a plot point from that history I just could not accept. The history lesson went on and on forever at times. I really would rename the virtual character "Librarian" to the more appropriate name "Basil Exposition". It got me bogged down every time I got into it and was far more detail than needed in places and wandered around quite a bit. I did finish the book and the ending was exciting and fun, but it was not what I would call one of my favorite summer reads at all.

Not one of my favorite Neal Stephenson books. Plot is weak. Characters are shallow. Storyline is predictable. Gratuitous sex and swearing that does nothing but detract from the story. Not even in the same league as Anathem, Cryptonomicon, and Seveneves. Won't waste my time with his other early works.

The style kind of gets in the way of the substance, but you may like the style. Feels like it's been written by a really clever fourteen year old boy, but a must-read classic of the genre nonetheless.

Lost me pretty quickly. Not my stile.

Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash seeks to draw you into a Cyberpunk future where the Mafia and smaller city-states quite literally own the world (or their small piece of it), and some dark and terrible force threatens both the real and virtual world to it's core. But it takes it's time doing so and sometimes the plot seems to take little side detours to draw you away from the main plot line. Don't get me wrong, it's an enjoyable read, but one that I'm content to do once, as the characters sometimes suffer from having simple motivations and reactions and often represent some wish fulfillment on the authors part. (the main character is the "BEST" swordsman in the world and practically invented the virtual world while taking no credit for it, main character two is a rebellious skater chick, leader of the Mafia is a nice older family guy that is unnaturally interested in two up to this point unimportant characters who somehow now are the only hope for the future, etc).

And even when you find out the final twist, it's essentially a yawn, "yeah, blah, blah, ancient Sumerian, take over the world, evil genius flees with one thing that can destroy him". I loved it for the future it painted in that it was unique and definitely had a Cyberpunk flavor, but I found myself wishing that there was a few less pages and a little more character motivation or uniqueness in the middle of it.

If you like frenetic action and multiple plot lines then you will like this book. I thought the imagination and “homework” evidence was good. But…..I felt like I had drunk too much warm beer at the carnival and after riding the bumper cars and the tilt-a-whirl I got on the “zipper” whilst the carny went back to his trailer for some smokes. I didn’t care about any of the characters. The superhuman teenage skateboarder was particularly annoying.

This book is ok. I love anything about futuristic dystopian worlds and read anything close to that genre. This was a teeny bit child like in the design of it's characters though. The writer makes reference to a 15yr old girls arse at least 4 times in this book may I add xD

Thought I would enjoy it, but it turned out to not be my taste in reading material.

Started to lose me towards the end. Not as engaging as Seveneves.

Interesting characters in a well imagined world. He has some clever language tricks that help him set the scene. Lots of action. the 50 pages in the middle on the binary nature of religion and man I could have done without.

Not nearly as entertaining or as well written as his later works. However, if you want to see the bridge between Gibson's "Cyberspace" / "Cyberpunk" work and what we see with Ready Player One, then this is good.

Read SevenEves before this one, better book as author was more experienced it felt. Snow Crash was good in some ways but in the end too many ideas crushed into one book. Very skate world, tech nerd oriented so I learned some things but best upshot was the linguistic physiological origins discussions. That felt like smart science fiction, the rest felt like reading at tweaker geek fantasy diary.

Good

This book is alright. Maybe great when it came out?

It is a little strange for my taste read it as it was a book club book. Might try another book by this author to see it is different situ

starting with a "known" (deja vú) set of sci-fiction topics, it turns out to be a bit far fetched and elementary plot and uncovincing development;

At the time this book was written and published the technology it prefaced was avantgarde. To read this book over twenty years after it was published is fascinating. His ability to create and describe what would be the internet, viruses and hacker issues, virtual reality, and an a sundry of other technologies is quite amazing. The take on the future of religion, nations, politics, and the public franchising of common and governmental functions is quite interesting and remains to be seen as put into practice. Impressively presented. Than being said, the characters and the story wasn't as fulfilling as the science part of the fiction. Although I am being adamantly encouraged to read a few more of his books I think I will put my reading time to other pursuits. Not to say I won't read anymore from this author, just not a Stephensonian fanatic as some other people I know.

Putting yourself in Neal's shoes, he was prescient with many of his futuristic inventions that we now take for granted. Putting yourself in my shoes in the present tense, I found it dated.