I’m sure this has been debated/posited here before, but I’m trying to choose between these two cyberpunk classics and can’t seem to make up my mind.
Context: I’m not usually a genre reader (more “lit fic” and non-fic, i guess), but a couple months ago i read Lord of the Rings and absolutely loved it. I decided to give more genre and plot-driven stuff a chance afterwards.
But… i just finished DUNE, and can’t say i really loved it. I really enjoyed the world building and palace intrigue in the first half but ultimately found Herbert’s prose to be pretty boring and the second half a bit of a drag (odd because i much prefer the second movie).
Nevertheless i want to dive in to a cyberpunk classic now and I can’t pick between these two. They both seem interesting. Humor goes a long way for me, so I’m leaning toward Snow Crash… tho the fact that the protagonist’s name is Hiro Protagonist, and that he’s a pizza delivery/hacker guy, makes me think it’s a little more nerd-boy humor than I’m gonna like.
Any guidance? A random sampling of authors I really love: Vonnegut, Paul Beatty, David foster Wallace, Orwell, Charles Portis, Tony Tulathimutte.
by Equal_Feature_9065
9 Comments
Do Snow Crash. It has more of a Beatty/Vonnegut vibe.
Both: first Neuromancer, then Snow Crash. You have to understand that Neuromancer kickstarted cyberpunk (in the original sense and philosophy that the system is essentially corrupt and cannot be changed), and Snow Crash, ten years later, started *post*-cyberpunk (the system is deeply flawed but worth reforming and getting a position in society is acceptable).
I mean, it’s worth noting that in the sequel to Snow Crash, chapter 2 is taking a prototypical cyberpunk antihero with a gun installed in his forehead – and shooting him in the back of the head, so we can focus on his daughter, the actual protagonist.
Reading both gives you both sides of a longer conversation.
Snow Crash, for sure. It’s a lot more narrated and straightforward than Neuromancer, which is a lot more cerebral.
Snow Crash is considered post-cyberpunk, lacking a lot of the punk aspects (body modification, violation of self, drug use), and is really a parody of the cyberpunk movement.
But it is more fun, more action. Neuromancer has style oozing from its pores, though.
Read both, Neuromancer has follow on books. It predates Snowcrash so it’s interesting to follow progression of the genera so I’d start with Neuromancer.
I loved Neuromancer and its sequels. I did not connect with Snow Crash at all. Not sure how that helps since you don’t know me, but I’d go Neuromancer every time.
I’ve only read Snow Crash and just want to give you a heads up, because it was *jarring* when I got to it…
>!Late in the book, there is a sex scene involving a 15-year-old. And it’s written as a completely normal sex scene between two consenting adults. But it’s not, because one of them is 15. I found it really fucking gross and it painted my view of the rest of the book, despite enjoying it up to that point.!<
I just kinda skimmed through that part to get past it (it lasted 5 pages in my copy, which…wtf). But if you’re okay with that, the rest of the book was pretty good.
EDIT: Sorry to offend whoever downvoted me. >!I don’t think I’m a prude for being against depictions of sex scenes between a full as adult and a 15-year-old.!<
Read both. They are very different and distinct books. Start with Neuromancer.
I mean you could go totally off piste and read Pat Cadigan, the other originator of cyberpunk. Go for Synners.