Rating: 
Summary: Neal Stephenson should consider writing classes
Review: I think Snow Crash was awful as a novel, but individual vignettes from the book are far better than anything else I have read in a long, long time.Normally I detest books labelled as "cyberpunk" (I guess I'm from the old school... Heinlein, Williamson, Bester etc.) but the book starts so wonderfully that I had incredibly high hopes for the story. I even enjoyed the exposition in the middle unlike many of the other reviewers. My problem with the book is that there is so little plot that the climax and ending are largely meaningless. In the small, Stephenson coins wonderful phrases and shows us incredibly well painted satire. Unfortunately, plot development and characterization seems to take a back seat to gee-whiz imagery. Also, the "ideas per page" coefficient (which sustains the book for me) seems to fall of markedly towards the end. In summary, Stephenson blenders together a lot of elements and ideas that are individually a lot of fun and very interesting, but maybe he should have written a bunch of short stories instead of a not-very-well-integrated novel. I'm giving it five stars because I had a hell of a lot of fun reading this book even though I thought it didn't hang together as a story.
Rating: 
Summary: Enough with the bad names already ...
Review: In the entire history of fiction, there can be left little -- if any -- doubt that a main character has ever been given a worse name than Hiro Protagonist. Good Lord, who is this guy trying to fool. While it must be said that Stephenson has a pithy imagination and he manages to keep the plot rolling, the statement that this novel has impacted the ever-burgeoning Internet has been over-played. Please find another book to lean on. Avatars!!! Wow, what a colorful notion. I imagine they never could have invented themselves -- well, maybe they could in Stephenson's universe.
Rating:
Summary: The kind of book that makes me glad I read Science Fiction.
Review: Stephenson is a great storyteller, and he has a terrific story to tell. He does so with engaging characters and a vividly realized future that is not as improbable as it may first appear. _Snow Crash_ is also a multilayered book, with something for everyone. It's fun, funny, and intriguing, and I couldn't put it down.
Rating: 
Summary: Some good vision; poor plot
Review: This book was presented to me as the "Bible of Silicon Valley". After reading the book I tend to agree with that assessment - some of the technology concepts are about as old as the bible. Granted, this book was originally published a few years ago and technology has made great strides since then, but if you're looking for new information technology insight - look again. What added a few stars to this book's review are the author's unique vision of a future society and the many humorous "one-liners". The plot (along with the characters) is simple but has a tendency to become weighted-down with a lot of useless techno-babble and a history(?) lesson concerning Sumerians. If you buy this book, don't buy it for the plot.
Rating:
Summary: As a rule I don't like cyberfiction,
Review: If I don't like it it is because I don't like cyberpunk. This book had some good points though I suppose. It began well ,was funny in a way, & probably had some good moments. I hate to say this, but one of the reasons I don't like these kinds of books is because the people I've known who like them are creepy. I guess that's silly, but I haven't liked liked the cyberpunk I actually have tried. Well, I did like a Cadigan story I read in Asimov's, but otherwise bleh to this whole subgenre I doubt I'll try another.
Rating:
Summary: I was quite impressed
Review: I tend to be a rather picky reader, and I can't stand poorly-written science fiction. There are a few gems out there. I love the subtlety (I didn't notice the play on words in the main character's name 'til nearly the end), the sense of humor, and the fact that the constructed world view didn't seem constructed; the book had a very down-to-earth, 'that's the way it is, period' outlook. The only problem I had with this book, and it wasn't enough to drop from 5 stars, was...what happened to Da5id?? Even a hokey 'happily-ever-after' would've sufficed in that respect. Ah well, over all an excellent book. I've just started Diamond Age...
Rating:
Summary: Spectacular; All too Real.
Review: Stephensen portrays the future of Info Tech as few can. While his picture of America's future is somewhat fantastic, his view of cyberspace to come is, I feel, very close to the mark. A must read for anyone interested in computers/the future.
Rating:
Summary: milestone
Review: This is a milestone in science fiction. Its funny that most people start thinking this book sucks an soon as the author presents information. Wonderful story, masterfully woven mix of hi tec and ancient mythology(about which he tells the reader and thouroughly researched that is), brilliant vision of a blade-runner like future, characters you'll never forget. I have read this book many times over, until i got The Diamond Age. Then I read that.
Rating:
Summary: Hilarious, tense, thought-provoking.
Review: Hilarious, tense, thought-provoking. I don't read a lot of fiction, and when I pick up an SF novel, I'll put it back down if it's not engaging. I didn't put this one down except to eat, go to the bathroom and sleep (three hours after I usually turn in). This will be a hard act to follow.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing work
Review: The opening of this book is among the best cyber-fiction I've ever read. As the story progressed it continued to amaze me with it's blend of interesting characters, interpolation of modern technology into the future and historical references. I can only hope that Neal has another work of this caliber in his future.
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