图书作者与内容简介

Snow Crash is a science fiction novel written by Neil Stephenson. The setting of this book is set in the future, where people escape the chaotic reality by entering the digital realm of "the Metaverse". The protagonists face an issue in the Metaverse and go on a quest to solve it.

我的观点

「Snow Crash」, written by author Neal Stephenson, is a significant milestone of science fiction due to its brilliant mixture of intense narrative and unprecedented setting. As a novel written thirty years ago, it is also a wonder that some of the fabricated objects and social phenomena in the story are actually taking shape around us, such as the 「Metaverse」 and the rise of social media; while some of its prediction took a different path, for example, corporate-controlled city-states. Regardless, the complex, delicate web of plotlines makes Snow Crash a timeless artwork and a must-read book for people who are interested in digital dystopian fiction.

The story starts off with our protagonist, Hiro, on a high-speed trip to deliver pizza. He is heading towards a 「burbclave」, which is a self-governed city-state that has its own law and administrative system. This is the future United States of America: Geologically the same area, but politically torn into town-sized communities that scatter across the nation, governed by mega-corporations and foreign mafias. With a broken economy and social structure, America now relies on four major domain industries–music, movies, software, and high-speed pizza delivery to support its dying society. 

Being in such a chaotic world that is ruled by greedy enterprises, people tend to flee from reality. For those who have the financial ability to afford high-end computers and devices, they have the perfect place to escape: the Metaverse. With special devices, anyone can experience the Metaverse, a virtual space that takes the setting of a black sphere roughly larger than Earth, with a brightly lit boulevard that rings around the globe. It doesn’t sound like much, but with coding skills, people can write codes to create anything in this universe made out of zeros and ones.

The word 「Metaverse」 may seem familiar nowadays, since the CEO of Meta (formerly Facebook) revealed plans to build a virtual place where people can communicate and have social interactions on the Internet, just like that in real life but without the barrier of physical distance and economic restrictions. It is worth noting that, while most people think that Metaverse is a made-up word created by Meta, the word is actually first introduced to the public in this book, Snow Crash. Nevertheless, the Metaverse in this novel serves identical purposes as the one in real life: to entertain and connect with people in the realm of virtual reality.

However, no technology comes without defects and risks. In the story, a newly discovered drug/virus named Snow Crash that infiltrates both the virtual and real worlds is spreading all over the place since it does not have to require physical contact to infect individuals; it can also be contagious on the Metaverse. Those who are infected by Snow Crash will lose connection to the virtual world while suffering from hallucinations, disorientation, and loss of motor control in real life. After witnessing his friend falling victim to the lethal effects of Snow Crash, Hiro decides to go on a quest to investigate the origins of this drug and the conspiracy behind it.

It turns out that L. Bob Rife, a wealthy media tycoon, is the mastermind of this intentional pandemic. Rife's villainous objective is to make use of Snow Crash's power, which is fueled by an ancient Sumerian artifact known as the "Nam-Shub of Enki」, to establish world dominance. This age-old artifact has the ability to rewrite the linguistics of human beings and command individuals to do things at the will of the artifact owner.

Linguistics holds, not just a key part in the story, but also a key part in our daily life. Language is the cornerstone of the communication, culture, and knowledge transmission of mankind. Language makes us able to convey thoughts and foster connections between individuals and across generations. Linguistic diversity reflects the rich culture and identities of civilizations across the globe, with each language having unique worldviews and histories. In addition, language significantly influences our daily lives, influencing our consumption of media and information, and impacting how we interpret news, literature, and art. In conclusion, language is the lens through which we perceive and engage with the world, enriching our daily existence.

Information warfare is also an important issue discussed in the novel. As Hiro and his friends try to hunt down the culprit behind this world-class scheme, the antagonist Bob Rife uses the influence of fake news and intelligence to confuse his pursuers. In this world where we receive pieces of information everywhere and every time, it is crucial for us to be cautious and critical consumers of data. "Snow Crash" serves as a reminder of the power of misinformation (and disinformation) in our interconnected digital age. It underscores the importance of media literacy, critical thinking, and fact-checking to navigate a landscape where fake news and manipulative narratives can shape public judgment and behavior. Just as Hiro and his allies try their best to unravel the web of conspiracy in the novel, real-life individuals must remain watchful in the face of information warfare, ensuring that credible sources guide their understanding of the world. 

In my opinion, the advanced concepts in this story and the lessons that came along with it are what really make Snow Crash remarkable aside from its splendid plotline. The story's intricate web of plotlines challenges readers to explore a wicked world ruled by greed and corporate influence, where the escape into virtual reality explains our fascination with the Metaverse. Moreover, the novel's exploration of linguistic power and information warfare serves as a reminder of how language is important to our society, and also the need for critical thinking in an era where information is both a weapon and a source of manipulation. In my point of view, Snow Crash is a mirror that reflects the highly advanced era we’re in, an era where the boundary between fact and fiction is blurred and it is up to us to define what’s correct. That’s why I believe it is definitely worth the time to savor through its thrilling pages.