Some of the overall themes that are present in Stephenson's works are his unique style, his use of technology (which cyberpunk writers use as a rule), and his use of hypertext. Stephenson's style is unique in the way that it explains, entertains, and informs all at once. Usually ancient history does not make for easy (especially pleasurable) reading, but in Snow Crash it is very easy and enjoyable to read the Babel history. He is proficient also in explaining rather difficult technological computer concepts in "layman's terms," to where you don't have to be an expert to follow.

Stephenson uses technology in his work, as all cyberpunks do, but his imagined future is not quite as bleak as everyone else's, at least not in Snow Crash. Not to say that his visions are of a utopia of any sort, but he does see a satisfying ending. Technology is everywhere in the future... we can see that happening now.



Stephenson's favorite topic in his writing seems to be different variations of hypertext. The metaverse in Snow Crash is one of the main chunks of the storyline. In The Diamond Age, it is the Primer. And so seems to be the pattern with his other works.



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