Questions About Snow Crash

by Neal Stephenson (Goodreads Author)

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Answered Questions (15)

Hiro Protagonist, really? Should I be worried about the startling lack of imagination this displays?

Luka Naglić It's obvious humor. It might be a point of worry you don't recognize that.…moreIt's obvious humor. It might be a point of worry you don't recognize that.(less)

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Would this be good on audiobook or is it better as a regular book?

Heidi Draffin I am listening to Snow Crash now as an audiobook and absolutely love it. Johnathan Davis has quickly become one of my favorite narrators.
…moreI am listening to Snow Crash now as an audiobook and absolutely love it. Johnathan Davis has quickly become one of my favorite narrators.
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This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)

Kristine She's into Raven at the time but she's 15 and (it is implied) that he's much older. It's also kind of a coercive relationship. She has a choice in the…moreShe's into Raven at the time but she's 15 and (it is implied) that he's much older. It's also kind of a coercive relationship. She has a choice in the matter, but she's a prisoner and he's someone with power over her. So, while she's attracted to him and his power it's also her survival instinct to hook up with him. He is powerful and could help her get out of her situation there, when she sees no other means of escaping her situation. Even though he's not her captor, the power inbalance makes it kind of Stockholm syndrome too.

In the end I think even though she has lingering feelings for him, she realizes he's a bad guy. He kills people and is into a 15 year old girl. He's also on the other side of the conflict and she only slept with him for the reasons I listed above. She's a hormonal teenager. Even though she is smart and resourceful, she still just a kid. That is reinforced by the end of her story: her going home with her mom.(less)

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Am I the only one who has had trouble finishing this book? Perhaps I should try it as an audiobook. The beginning was intriguing but the middle part bogged down for me.

Curious808 It reads to me like a graphic novel, an immersive world is instantly painted in my head, and I cruise through it. Read it at least half a dozen times …moreIt reads to me like a graphic novel, an immersive world is instantly painted in my head, and I cruise through it. Read it at least half a dozen times over the years. There's definitely a slow patch in the middle for a bit, all that explaining, the smooth flow is broken and that's mildly annoying, but doesn't stop me from coming back again! I include this with William Gibson's novels, especially the early Neuromancer and Count Zero, dystopian near-future sci-fi that you can slip into, like putting on a VR headset. (For the effect, a close video-equivalent for me is "Altered Carbon" on Netflix.) (less)

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Would this be a good book for a 14 year old boy?

Liz If he's a very mature 14-year-old boy, I guess. If a 14-year-old told me they'd read and enjoyed "Snow Crash," and didn't seem to be lying, I would as…moreIf he's a very mature 14-year-old boy, I guess. If a 14-year-old told me they'd read and enjoyed "Snow Crash," and didn't seem to be lying, I would assume they were one of those kids who is very ahead of their age, probably taking an advanced math course or something.

That said, if your kid loves acting and has a genuinely weird sense of humor, get him this book as soon as you think he's old enough. (If "Snow Crash" were a movie it would probably be rated PG-13, maaabye a mild R; the most violent stuff isn't described in gory detail, and isn't too prevalent.) (less)

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