Books

First edition, first printing, of the author's breakthrough novel, inscribed by him on the title page, "To Chris, best wishes, Neal S". This seminal work of science fiction, in which Stephenson invents "the Metaverse" and popularizes the term "avatar", is rare inscribed. A Silicon Valley favourite, Snow Crash is a cyberpunk novel that has prophesied, inspired, and critiqued a staggering array of modern technology. "The Metaverse isn't the only element of Snow Crash that has earned [Stephenson] a reputation as a tech Nostradamus. He's credited with predicting everything from our addiction to portable technology to the digitization of, well, everything" (Robinson). Following the exploits of the aptly named Hiro Protagonist, self-professed "Last of the Freelance Hackers" and "Greatest swordfighter in the world", Snow Crash navigates an anarcho-capitalist dystopia in which an elite few "control society because they have this semi-mystical ability to speak magic computer languages". The book explores digital currencies, mobile computing, and virtual realities, and has influenced the Google Earth creators and Mark Zuckerberg, as well as Jeff Bezos, who hired Stephenson as a futurist for his space company, Blue Origin. Snow Crash ranks alongside William Gibson's Neuromancer (1984) as one of the most influential and prescient works of cyberpunk. Joanna Robinson, "The Sci-Fi Guru Who Predicted Google Earth Explains Silicon Valley's Latest Obsession", Vanity Fair, 23 June 2017. Octavo. Original blue quarter cloth, spine lettered in silver, purple boards. With dust jacket. Faint marks to the top edge; unclipped jacket lightly soiled, minor creasing to spine ends and corners: a near-fine copy in like jacket.

"Snow Crash" by Neal Stephenson is a cyberpunk novel that immerses readers in a gritty, high-tech world where virtual reality, corporate power, and societal breakdown collide. The story follows Hiro Protagonist, a skilled hacker and pizza delivery driver in the not-too-distant future. In this world, people escape their dreary reality by immersing themselves in the Metaverse, a virtual reality space where they take on different personas and interact in a digital landscape. Hiro discovers a dangerous new computer virus called Snow Crash that not only infects computers but also affects users in the Metaverse, causing them to become comatose in both the virtual and physical realms. Alongside his hacker friend, Y.T., a daring teenage courier skilled in navigating the chaotic streets, Hiro delves into investigating the origins of Snow Crash. The plot unfolds into a complex web of conspiracies involving ancient Sumerian history, corporate greed, and religious cults. Hiro uncovers connections between the virus, a linguistic concept, and an ancient language that seem to hold the key to stopping Snow Crash. As Hiro and Y.T. traverse the dystopian landscape, encountering drug-dealing skateboarders, religious zealots, and high-powered corporate entities, they race against time to prevent the global spread of Snow Crash and its catastrophic effects. Stephenson weaves together elements of technology, linguistics, mythology, and action-packed sequences to create a thrilling narrative. The novel not only explores the potential dangers of unchecked technological advancements but also delves into the power dynamics between governments, corporations, and individuals in a world where virtual reality blurs the line between perception and reality. "Snow Crash" serves as a thought-provoking commentary on the influence of technology on society, the evolution of language, and the consequences of information control. It remains a seminal work in the cyberpunk genre, captivating readers with its vivid world-building, fast-paced plot, and intricate exploration of futuristic concepts.