Snow Crash
To start, I felt snow crash was an excellent cyberpunk novel - it's setting and satire was exactly what I would expect from modern cyberpunk literature. The technological influence in this world closely mimics the tech worlds of classics such as Neuromancer. In fact, I feel that Stephenson's Metaverse was the precursor to Gibson's cyberspace. The Snow Crash, "cyberspace" was quite similar to the cyberspace of today. People enter the internet and are able to chat, trade software, and discuss all sorts of subjects in a world-wide forum. The main difference I saw was that the Metaverse had the monitor projected into the viewer's eyes. Other than audiovisual output, the Metaverse was not able to transmit contact or smells. Thus, it seems like just a virtual reality internet (like VRML) where we can visually manipulate complex programs. I feel that the Internet will soon become the Metaverse within a decade. All technological advances are directed toward this sort of interface. It seems to me that Stephenson was much more familiar with modern tech than Gibson was. Stephenson's use of technical language and familiarity with how graphics work (when he described the swordfight in the metaverse) showed that he must have been a veteran at computers and programming.
One interesting aspect of tech that Stephenson used was the concept of simplicity. His gadgets don't have a million wires and diode protruding from everywhere - they were both simple in design and purpose. For example, Hiro's computer deck was not as intricate as Gibson's computers with neural jacks and stuff, it was simply a laptop-like box with goggle attachments. Moreover, when I first read about Ravens molecule-sharp knives, I was reminded of that guy's thumb in Johnny Mnemonic and the wire that could come out of it. As it turned out, the knives were simply glass shards. Even though I don't understand how glass could be sharpened to that degree, the concept of death by sand in a world full of proton accelerators and 700 mph cybernetic dogs shows his admiration for traditional and simple technologies.
Overall, the main premise of the novel was the dependence of man on his inventions. Nothing could work without these electronic tools. For example, Hiro's fancy motorcycle was worthless when the CPU snow-crashed. Business people had to have continuous contact with the main corporations even on remote places such as the Enterprise. Man's dependence on tech was what nearly caused its destruction. The Snow-Crash virus infected everything including Reason. If electronics all crashed, people would be helpless - they wouldn't even be able to get past their electronic locks to go outside. Even in the most protected environments, the arrogance of man always leaves a weakness. Da5id felt he knew everything about computers and was not prepared for a virus that could spread through visual contact. Man has always been rather close minded to anything that was not proven through scientific methods. Even though no one has seen or accomplished such a feat, they deny the existence of it.
Stephenson's setting and technology seem to be typical of CP writers, yet the plot and themes do not match traditional CP philosophies. First of all, the theory that all people have the same basic "mental structures" illustrates how people are all related and linked. In most of the CP we've read, I always see the characters as being independent and unique. CP seems to stress the individuality of man and the many different ways of looking at things. By generalizing the mind of man, Stephenson builds a foundation on which he describes his philosophies, but also reduces the individual nature of man.
The plot of CP is probably the weakest characteristic of the book. Even though the story is pretty well thought out and executed, it seems strikingly Hollywood. First, the characters seem normal and have normal jobs. There seems to be nothing negative in their background or nature. CP usually has a rebellious attitude and creates characters running from the law or generally challenging authority. Hiro and everyone else seem like good guys - they do their work and do not dispute the governments win which they are ruled. Second, there are too many coincidences in the story. For example, it just happens that Hiro's father and Raven's father were friends during the world war. Moreover, it was too much of a coincidence that Y.T. meets Raven and flirts with him on a community as vast as The Enterprise. These little "chance" happenings and other like them seem so orchestrated and unreal. CP works have always impressed me with their realism and similarity to present society, but when I run into these little events, it reminds me that this is a story and I am sitting in bed reading it. I can't be truly engulfed by a story unless it appeals to me or my surroundings. Finally, I felt that the ending was both abrupt and too happy. In the end, all the loose ends are tied in a short span of time. Usually, CP works such as Freezone or Johnny Mnemonic leave the ending up in the air. Snow Crash had an actual denouement and conclusion. Everything is fine and dandy in the end - all the bad guys get what they deserve and all the good guys are happy and safe. Perhaps Stephenson was still thinking of writing this for a graphic novel, so he planned a happier ending. Usually, these comics are geared toward the mainstream youth who may not want a dark and ominous ending. No matter how cheesy or predictable the ending is, people would still prefer everything to turn out happy.
I feel that the novel was pretty entertaining and his religious philosophies rather fascinating, but could use improvement on creating a more CP ending.