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Some consider that one of the major successes of the novel is that it is fun, even though it defies some of the rules and protocols of science-fiction writing, with massive infodumps on Sumerian religion, information theory and other subjects <ref name =”9”></ref>.
==About the story==
The main character, Hiro Protagonist, is a freelance hacker and the best sword fighter in the Metaverse. The story revolves around Hiro, as he uncovers the secret behind the online narcotic “Snow Crash” and the collapse of the dystopian society. He teams up with Y.T. and Juanita (Hiro’s old girlfriend) to delve into the mystery that mixes Sumerian myth with virtual reality in a cyberpunk setting <ref name =”10”> Bookrags. Snow Crash Summary & Study Guide Description. Retrieved from http://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-snow-crash/#gsc.tab=0</ref> <ref name =”11”> Stranger Views (2017). 5 reasons Snow Crash will be the coolest book you ever read. http://www.strangerviews.com/sci-fi-books/classic-sci-fi-books/5-reasons-snow-crash-will-coolest-book-ever-read/</ref>.
Some reviewers consider that the book has one of the most effective opening hooks in science-fiction. A description of a high-tech armored driver and car; a man who works for the Mafia delivering pizzas. During this setup, not only the main protagonist is introduced but also the skateboard courier Y.T., and some of the major players and political structure of the future Los Angeles <ref name =”12”> Eyrie.org. Snow Crash. Retrieved from https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-553-56261-4.html</ref>.
Snow Crash can be considered cyberpunk humor. The characters approach an insane, satirical world with a sarcastic attitude. The author does not only provides humorous ideas, but also “digs beneath the surface, filling out the corners and edges with with bits of trivia and extrapolation, resulting in a highly improbable world that feels, while reading, like a living, breathing place just a few exaggerations around the corner from our own.” <ref name =”12”></ref>
The story is also considered divisive. Many view the novel has flawed, going against a lot of accepted tenets of literary writing. Indeed, Stephenson’s education was as a physicist and a geographer and he came to writing from the outside. One of the criticism is that right from the opening two chapters Neal Stephenson picks style over substance, providing a constant flow of information that can overwhelm the reader and take him out of the narrative (the so called “infodumps”). This is a trend that is constant throughout the book. It is the result of the author doing masses of research on a variety of different subjects <ref name =”9”></ref>.
==About the author==
Stephenson, in addition to his work as a science-fiction writer, is also the chief futurist at the AR company Magic Leap. He was born in Fort Meade, and grew up in a family that included biochemistry, physics, and electrical engineering professors. He studies physics and geography <ref name =”13”> Ha, A. (2016). ‘Snow Crash’ author Neal Stephenson is hoping for weird, indie VR. Retrieved from https://techcrunch.com/2016/09/13/neal-stephenson-disrupt/</ref>.
He is the author of several other books like Zodiac, the Hugo award-winning The Diamond Age, Cryptonomicon, and the three volumes of the Baroque Cycle (Quicksilver, The Confusion, and The System of the World). Stephenson also writes under the pseudonym Stephen Bury <ref name =”9”></ref><ref name =”14”> Mustich, J (2008). Neal Stephenson: Anathem. Retrieved from http://www.barnesandnoble.com/review/neal-stephenson-anathem/</ref>.
==References==
