Neal Town Stephenson - Snow Crash - 7

Post by **clong** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 7:26 am

Snow Crash

Snow Crash is a highly entertaining and imaginitive book that I would recommend, but it suffers from poorly written ending. The first three quarters of the book are inventive, captivating, and very readible; the last quarter (from the point the action gets to the "raft") feels contrived and discontinuous. The whole Raven/YT episode on the raft made no sense whatsoever to me. The final climactic scene is poorly set up and relies on some almost juvenile plot devices.

In summary: enjoy it, but don't think too much about it (and I'm not talking about the "willing suspension of disbelief" that any fantasy/sci-fi reader should give to the Sumerian mythology stuff).

ChoChiyo · Post by **ChoChiyo** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 12:01 pm

Yeah, I had a problem with the Raven YT thing too. I know Stephenson went to a lot of trouble to let us know that she was no innocent virgin--yet, the thought of a fifteen year old with RAVEN who had to be 30, minimum, made me feel physically ill.

And a lot of strings were left danging at the end.

Spoiler: show

I still have to say that this was one of the most enjoyable books I've ever read--the characters were so unique, and the post-fall of the US setting was amazing to me, with its autonomous burb-claves and its Mafia franchises. Heh heh.

Gotta love it.

Hiro Protagonist may be my favorite fictional character of all time.
[/spoiler]

Post by **clong** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 12:39 pm

Well, I agree that there is much to be enjoyed in Snow Crash. If the ending had been as good as the rest of the book, it would probably be one of my favorites.

ChoChiyo · Post by **ChoChiyo** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 12:54 pm

In total agreement with you. The ending, the more I think on it, was just unsatisfying. Like a great date, with a handsome, charming, intelligent gentlemen in a great restaurant with a great play afterwards--and at the end of the date--no kiss.

Oh well.

I'll still love Hiro till I die.