Rating: 
Summary: Long time coming...
Review: I loved this book, I am an avid reader of both Sci-Fi & Fantasy and when a book comes along that grabs you and shakes you and makes you smile almost the entire time you are reading it... Well... Need I really say more? I had this booking sitting on my shelf for almost two years, hemmed and hawed, something about the blurb did not sit well with me. Then one day I picked it up, and I couldn't put it down! Read this book, force it on your friends, it is quick and well planned out and an excellent read. Now isn't that something we all wish we could find more of! :)
Rating: 
Summary: The best science fiction book I've ever read!!!
Review: Neal Stephenson began his studies as a physics major, then a geology major so he could obtain more time on his university's mainframe computer. He also began working on cars and agricultural labor to his present career as a writer. This is the first book that I have read by Neal Stephenson and it is definitely one of the best science fiction books I have read. I only wish I would have read "The Diamond Age" first. I do not usually read science fiction books, I usually stick with romance novels and Danielle Steel. This book was on a recommended reading list for my Internet & Society class. I am elated that this was the one I chose because I could not put it down. I was warned as with others that Neal's books do not have good endings, but I thought it was good-could have been better though. The beginning has this "I cannot put his book down" draw to it, but during the middle it is cluttered and distracting. Cyberpunk is definitely a hip and happening topic now that we are heading into the year 2000. The plot was different from anything that I have read before, that is unquestionably what made me keep reading until two in the morning some nights. His theme about the Internet plays on the way the Internet could be in the near future. The Metaverse is an extraordinary idea that may happen before we know it. The plot was intensely interesting and unmistakably well thought out, but I have one question; Where does he get these ideas? Pizza delivery is without a doubt at its best and boy do I have respect for those delivery boys working for the Mafia. Y.T. is undoubtedly my favorite character in the entire book. She is fifteen and afraid of nothing. She has an attitude and she definitely is not afraid to use it and has a sense of what she wants and if she wants it she will get it one way or another. The Snow Crash virus was a very interesting idea and brought the book together in a realistic way. With the advancement of technology this sort of thing is not out of the question and may be what the future will hold for computer hackers. The down sides about the book are the really boring chapters about Hiro doing research with the "Earth" and " The Librarian" in his office in the Metaverse, Raven and his killing sprees with the shards of glass, the fact that Juanita just disappears to The Raft without a trace until the end, and what happened to Da5id? The names of the characters are lame, but they bring an insightful look into the future of what children have to look forward too. I really hated the parts about Y.T.'s mother. The Federal government is slim we all know that, but where did Y.T get her courage and sense of direction? Clearly not from her mother, the dedicated Federal government hacker.
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Summary: The Quintessential Sci-Fi Book (It's Really Really Good!)
Review: This is the best book I have ever read. And I have read quite a few. There are so many subplots and minor characters that in most books would simply disappear after their first appearance, but not here - they always tie into the plot in some crazy and clever Seinfeldian twist that makes you go "Sweet!!" in a dead silent library. Books like Neuromancer fit into this most excellent category. College kids are writing essays on the book for Pete's sake. In a word - Mo betta butta.
Rating:
Summary: Neal Stephenson redefines the world and gives an alternative
Review: I thought that this book was excellent, I am a CS major so it was easy for me to relate to the intrigue of the Metaverse. In the beginning I did not really understand what the Metaverse was, and it was hard to figure out when Hiro Protagonist was in the Metaverse or in reality. As I read on I was able to figure it out. I give this book four stars, I loved the way the author set up the plot. In every action\science fiction adventure book there has to be some-one trying to take over the world. In this case it was L. Bob Rife, I think author really added an interesting twist by incorporating the Samerian origins of the drug snow crash. The authors choices of heroes was excellent, as well as his villains. A name like Hiro Protagonist just gives you the sense that he is going to save the day. I thought Hiro's story, being the last of the free lance hackers, and the greatest swordsman in the world. I thought this was a pretty good a good description to give to the hero of the story. The author's choice of sidekicks was pretty good as well. YT the cocky, sexy, thrasher, Deliverator who became friends with the mob, made a good fit with expert computer hacker Hiro. What I thought was very interesting was the class system in the Metaverse. Only people of a certain race were allowed in some cities, and in other cities anybody was allowed. But if there was to ever be a Metaverse in our reality, it may end up being segregated in just this way. But the way that Stephenson was able to weave in and out of reality, really kept me interested and wanting more. More is exactly what Stephenson gave, when the character Raven was introduced. This guy was evil, and seemingly unbeatable. He was a perfect match for a pusher of the cyberdrug snow crash. At times it was hard to believe that this book was written six or seven years ago. The Metaverse is something that could become a reality for us. To me, the idea of a Metaverse as a place that you can escape to, and where you can be who, or whatever you want is not that unrealistic. This book was incredibly fun to read and it was very hard to put down.
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Summary: Great Book!!!!!
Review: Neal Stephenson does a remarkable job in developing his sci-fi novel, Snow Crash. He draws from various research subjects and his active imagination to create a future world that seems more united while all the more disjointed. Stephenson builds on several religious ideologies, the hacker mentality, and plenty of creativity to develop a tale of action and adventure that is also thought provoking for the reader.The basic story involves two main characters-Hiro Protagonist, a master samurai swordsmen and software hacker, and Y.T., a teenage girl courier. The two join forces to save the world from L. Bob Rife and his virus, Snow Crash. Rife uses Sumerian history to create a virus that destroys hackers' neurological passages, serves as a mind-altering drug for the masses, and wrecks havoc in the metaverse as a computer virus. Hiro and Y.T. align with his ex-girlfriend and the Mafia to defeat the villainous Rife. Hiro also uses a computer-generated Librarian who interacts with the user much like a human would by making conversational speech, making jokes, and answering questions based on facts that it uncovers. Half of the story occurs in reality and the other half in the metaverse. Reality seems somewhat far-fetched in that the government no longer serves as a means of policing and all of its agencies have gone public, meaning that they work to turn a profit. Information is the driving force behind the economy. The metaverse is a virtual reality location that allows people to be whomever they want, but most people choose to be themselves, with little touch ups of course. The metaverse is completely generated code of which Hiro just so happens to be one of the founding fathers. One would expect that he would be more than a mere pizza delivery person in reality, but that is not the case. Stephenson uses both fact and fiction to weave an enticing tale. Overall, the book kept me spellbound and intrigued. I think that the ending was a little pushed; however, while he appeals to the computer insiders, he does produce a tale that even those who are on unfamiliar ground can enjoy. Being that he wrote this novel between 1988 and 1991, I thought that he had insight to what the Internet could become. As for the content and plot, the idea that a virus could transcend into both a physical virus and a computer virus seems a little far-fetched. While using such a virus makes for a great work of fiction, it cannot be reality. Besides, Hackers do not spend their time using binary to code because doing so is too complicated and not very effective.
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Summary: Thrilling, Exciting, & Suspenseful !!!
Review: Snow Crash is a fantastical, methodical, high-speed story of what is to come from the influence of the computer and internet in our lives. The immense layering creating stories within stories causes some confusion throughout this book. This book looks a bit overwhelming, but it is well worth the price and the reading time. This book portrays a future that is not necesarrily pretty but it really is not that far off from what could happen.
Rating: 
Summary: A failed experiment.
Review: The opening chapters begin with wonderfully playful language and the promise of an interesting social satire, however both of the features that initially drew me in upon first reading are soon gone. Stephenson's imaginary world is not realy thought through-- especially when talking about politics and social trends. The over the top langauge is replaced by merely functional prose. Hiro Protagonist is an utterly uninteresting character; I am tired of writers who feel that a catalogue of skills (coding, swordsmanship) replace the art of characterization. I suppose that this is a concession to insure that the greatest number of readers can identify with him-- make him bland as he presumes his target audience to be. The only interesting characters are relegated to cameo roles. There is just too much in the book and little attempt is made to hold it together: one example being the revelation of a backstory at the end that has no bearing on the story and there is a silly James Bond style plot in the end that gets coupled with enough explosions to keep an Arnold fan satisfied. Some editor should have come along and made Stephenson cut the thing down to half the length. The 500+ page epic that is so standard in the science-fiction book industry leads to bad writing. I don't understand why this book is so highly regarded.
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Summary: Stephenson has become the Peter Drucker of the 21st Century
Review: Neal Stephenson becomes the antithesis of Peter Drucker and Alvin Toffler. The Metaverse / Internet is the retail battleground of the future. The best book on the Future of Retail in years. Hiro Protagonist is Bill Gates with an attitude and samurai sword.
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorites
Review: This book is one of my all-time favorite sci-fi books. Stephenson has a quirky, imaginitve style that keeps me interested from both intellectual and 'wow-that's-cool' standpoints. I wish he were more prolific, however, I'm still waiting for more after Diamond Age. In the meantime I'll have to endure the dry and flat prose of William Gibson.
Rating: 
Summary: Poor, fairly poor
Review: As my english prof would say, "Hadn't Neil got anyone to peer-edit his work?"
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