I have 20 pages left and I still don’t know what it all means. Was it really all about an ancient Sumerian hacker dude? Was there something more, some more meaningful layer of … meaning that I missed?
And boy am I afraid of dentatas now.
Finished the book. Wondering what you guys have to say tomorrow.
Here’s my take on it. Something to get the discussion going.
Stephenson’s taking the brain-as-a-computer metaphor and running with it. What if the mind was just software? Might there be a way to replace that program with another. Suppose someone did. Communist mind-control lasers replaced with Religious-Right mind-replacing bodily fluids and software. What could you do with that kind of control.
As a history nerd, I thought the Sumerian stuff was cool. Trouble was Sumer is a complete mystery to a great many people, necessitating a big old plot dump, a mini history course, right in the middle of the novel. The idea, though, of a whole civilization being organized this way was fascinating, if frightening. Societies consisting of an elite who programmed the masses like machines. Makes the dreams of the Nazis and the Soviets look like bunch of hippies smoke weed in the woods.
Reminds me of something Patton once said, “If everybody is thinking alike, then somebody isn’t thinking” [1].
Anyway, the rebel Cylons better hope Cavil doesn’t find a copy of this book when they get to Earth.
Well, we can close up shop. Our work is done here.
Over the past couple of months, Snow Crash has oftentimes been compared to Neuromancer. Having read both now, although it’s been a while for Neuromancer, I feel like Snow Crash was just a little more out there (the Mafia, the pizza delivery etc.), but Neuromancer was way more of a milestone in establishing the whole Cyberpunk genre, a way more ground-breaking and foundation-paving novel.
I had to bump this one last time, because this is worth it:
http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/unisex/popculture/9b02/
I love you too, ThinkGeek.
Hrm. I ordered mine thirty minutes ago, and it still isn’t here yet…
I have still not found a used copy of this book, but have managed to score most of Asimov’s Foundation and Robot series’. I refuse to pay full price, dammit!
In your opinion, is it something that could be listened to on audiobook? I see audible has it available.
I haven’t heard it, but I suppose it could… It’s very action and dialogue focused.
Saw this at ThinkGeek…
pretty awesome
Aw crap. I don’t usually buy t-shirts…
Sorry mageknight i didn’t see your post when i posted mine…
I actually listened to the audiobook of Snow Crash and it was very good. Good pacing and good voice work helped with the immersion factor and I don’t feel like I missed anything.
I was just wondering about this the other day: How did they pronounce “Da5id?”