Aug 10, 2015 people love the book snow crash, so it seemed like a good test to determine, once and for all, whether mike just hates sci fi as a genre. The hallmark of the true geek is attention to detail, and this book provides it in tiny, sansserif type over 240 pages. It accurately describes many of the technologies we now not only have, but have access to every day. His latest book some remarks is nonfiction a collection of essays, articles and interviews on everything from the history of science and. Snow crash, by neal stephenson another writer who gets the geek subculture. Stephenson gives a speech reflecting on how everyone is a geek or. Snow crash gives us a glimpse into an alternate america where the right to personal freedom overrides law. Synopsis snow crash plays out in a nottoodistant future where superinflation has ruined the world economy, the united states of read more. Grabs you quickly, thrusts you head long into world thats so preposterous that he cant possibly. Author lev grossman offers three great reads for the geeks in all of us.
It wasnt just the book s vision of a virtual world called the street. What are the things about snow crash that interest you. I tend to be older and more conservative than what i suspect the target audience is, but i feel the richer for having read snow crash. By stephen northcutt this is not the sort of book i would normally read. With summer vacation time upon us, take a break and crack open a book that. Ready player one by ernest cline, snow crash by neal stephenson, reamde by neal stephenson, neuromancer by william gibson. It was that, much more than with gibson, geeks could look at. Only once in a great while does a writer come along who defies comparison a writer so original he redefines the way we look at the world. Neal stephenson s classic novel not only offers up some again, slightly dated examples of the geek approach to life, but also gets into the headspace of people who want answers and arent waiting patiently for someone to deliver them. Way back in 1992, author neal stephenson published his breakthrough novel, snow crash, a cyberpunk exploration of thenfuturistic technologies. Snow crash npr coverage of snow crash by neal stephenson.
Brilliantly realizedstephenson turns out to be an engaging guide to an onrushing tomorrow. If we say that this book is one of its kind then it will not be wrong. See more ideas about snow crash, books and sun mandala. Amazon studios list for mustsee scifi tv features snow crash, ringworld, lazarus. The charlotte geeks book club meets on the second tuesday of each month from 78 pm at park road books in the park rd shopping. Neal stephenson explains silicon valleys latest obsession vanity.
Sep 22, 2017 snow crash, by neal stephenson another writer who gets the geek subculture. Incorrect book the list contains an incorrect book. Neal stephenson is such a writer and snow crash is such a novel, weaving virtual reality, sumerian myth, and just about everything in between with a cool, hip. Snow crash was written in the years 1988 through 1991 as the author listened to a great deal of loud, relentless, depressing music. Jul 17, 2014 that depends on what you think snow crash is like. The book famously opens with a breakneck car chase as the main. Snow crash is a science fiction novel by american writer neal stephenson, published in 1992.
Not just due to the writing style and the content of the book, but this book takes the cyberpunk to a whole new height. Stephenson has also mentioned that julian jaynes book the origin of consciousness in the breakdown of the bicameral mind was one of the main influences on snow crash. Best books for geeks 208 books share book recommendations. Neal stephenson is such a writer and snow crash is such a novel, weaving virtual reality, sumerian myth, and just about everything in between with a cool. Snow crash is the story of a hacker named hiro protagonist, who encounters a mysterious computer virus that seems to attack people. This geek book was recommended by techrepublic member jackofalltech in the discussion about atlas shrugged. In the now of stephensons novel, asherahs languagevirus is revived. Neal stephensons message in code technology the guardian.
Like many of stephensons other novels, it covers history, linguistics, anthropology, archaeology, religion, computer science, politics, cryptography, memetics and philosophy. Book excerpts are provided by the publisher and may contain language. But snow crash, stephensons 1992 novel, changed all that. The book presents the sumerian language as the firmware programming language for the brainstem, which is supposedly functioning as the bios for the human brain. Like many of stephensons other novels, it covers history. Stephenson now resides in a comfortable home in the western hemisphere and spends all of his time trying to retrofit an office into its generally dark, unlevel, and asbestosladen basement so that he can. First arriving on the scene in 1992 to critical acclaim, this definitive novel of the. This is not the sort of book i would normally read.
The charlotte geeks book club meets on the second tuesday of each month from 78 pm at park road books in the park rd shopping center. Feb 22, 2020 snow crash follows the ironically named freelance hacker, hiro protagonist. Jan 17, 2017 snow crash is not the kind of book written for people looking for a quick escape into an alternate world. Where neuromancer fails to anticipate the path of technology, snow crash is much more accurate. Welcome to snow crash, which takes the abovementioned ideas along with many more. On a personal level, we see characters that do not play by the rules, do not play well with others, and generally avoid anything resembling order. This isnt the first time that snow crash has been scheduled to be made into a movie. The personal website of author neal stephenson, unless its been hacked.
Every cybersecurity geek on the planet should embrace this book. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read snow crash. The first neal stephenson book, the big u, was was published the same year, and featured american megaversity and life around it plagued by riots. Our illustrious leader and supreme book chooser, nathan, alternates the book choices between the fantasy and scifi genres. Also, just to note, stephenson is an immensely entertaining author, prone to polysyllabic fits of metaphorical fancy that make his prose as amusing as watching a drunk penguin try to tapdance.
Back in 1992 when the book was initially released, paramount optioned the novel and had begun preproduction. Neal stephenson interview seveneves is the end of the world as we know it duration. Neal stephenson books in order for his series and bestselling novels like cryptonomicon, snow crash, interface, reamde. Amazon studios list for mustsee scifi tv features snow. Sep 19, 2012 geeks, swords and the snow crash movie. Some of the greatest books out there are the ones that make you think and draw you in to irresistible narratives. Neal stephensons classic novel not only offers up some again, slightly dated examples of the geek approach to life, but also gets into the headspace of people who want answers and arent waiting patiently for someone to deliver them. According to wikipedia, snow crash is a science fiction novel written by neal stephenson and published in 1992. Snow crash author neal stephenson talks to the hive about the differences. While i read a good portion of snow crash in bed before going to sleep at night, it is definitely not your typical nightly reading. I first read snow crash in the late 90s, probably over a summer during my.
The bookpart of nivens known space seriescenters on two humans sent by mysterious alien to explore the titular structure, a massive. Funny then to later discover that the novel was written after a comic book attempt at the same story fell apart. Oct 09, 2011 9 essential geek books you must read right now. Snow crash by neal stephenson, first edition abebooks. The diamond age snow crash is a science fiction novel by american writer neal stephenson, published in 1992. This study guide consists of approximately 81 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of snow crash.
At least not if youre me and prefer to read lighter books that may or may not influence part of your. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. If you are a cyberpunk fan, you need to read this book. The book presents a rather unsettling 21st centuryafter the economy crashes throughout the world, big businesses take ownership of global territories. You will never again look at toilet paper quite the same way afterwards. Neal stephenson is such a writer and snow crash is such a novel, weaving. Snow crash movie to be written and directed by joe cornish. Stephenson predicted a lot of what we now take for granted in day to day life and it is really kind of awesome. Hiro initially works as a pizza delivery man for the mafia, but ends up losing his job. Neal stephenson is such a writer and snow crash is such a novel, weaving virtual reality, sumerian myth, and just about everything in between with a cool, hip cybersensibility to bring us the gigantic thriller of the information age. However, it wasnt until 1992 when neal stephenson became a known author with his novel snow crash, a hightech comic novel in the cyberpunk subgenre that took the world by storm. Hiro protagonist, freelance hacker and the greatest sword fighter in the metaverse, teams up with y.
The west coast has been carved up by private organizations and entrepreneurs. Snow crash may 12, 2017 dara s the charlotte geeks book club meets on the second tuesday of each month from 78 pm at park road books in the park rd shopping. The second neal stephenson book i read, snow crash didnt fail to impress after anathem. Now i dont like to use the term dystopian for either of those books, but. Jun 02, 2011 snow crash is a smart, cool, funny, witty, and actionpacked adventure featuring a pair of unlikely heroes who must save the world from infocalypse. Snow crash by neal stephenson goodreads share book. Neal stephenson explains silicon valleys latest obsession. Jun 03, 2018 5 scifi books biotech geeks should read right now. When i read snow crash, i was amazed that the book was written in the early 90s. Before the chapter actually starts, we get dictionarystyle definitions of the words snow, crash, and virus. Most of the year, your reading materials are likely technical guides, journals, instruction manuals or howto books. The novel follows the adventures of a hackerpizza deliveryman named hiro protagonist, as well as a skatermessenger who goes by y. Snow crash is a mindaltering romp through a future america so bizarre, so outrageousyoull recognize it immediately. If you enjoy rollercoaster rides, snow crash is definitely for you.
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