Spring21 Week 1

Welcome to the Week 1 of the Spring 21 Metagame Book Club. We are reading Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. 

During this week, we'll be meeting on Monday March 22, 2021 at 5 pm SLT (PT US) in the Second Life environment at the Community Virtual Library (CVL).

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Cookie/202/196/1006

Reading this Week (Mar 22 - 28) 

Chapters 1 - 22

When you read the acknowledgements at the very back of the book, the author, Neal Stephenson, wrote that book was originally conceptualized as a "computer-generated graphic novel." As you are reading the book you will see and feel this. Here's even how the landing page might have been in 1992.

Snow Crash is considered one of the seminal books for the cyberpunk genre. It also introduced readers to the concept of the metaverse and has been cited as an inspiration for virtual worlds like Second Life and others as well as virtual reality. 

Viewing this Week 

This is a review of Snow Crash from Zoe Kirk-Robinson (2013) 

Look for us to focus more on the Metaverse, hacking and cyber-security breeches.

If you are waiting for your book, here is an audio snippet of Chapter 1 and part of Chapter 2. 

Neal Stephenson talking about Snow Crash (up until 3:05)

Optional Readings 

Review of Snow Crash on REDITAL by Gary S.

"Snow Crash isn't a book to read if you care about plot. Neal Stephenson is a concept writer, and this is clear throughout the book"

We'd suggest reading this quick review so you know what you getting into ... and also look at the art by Izzy Medrano of Hiro Protagonist

and Y.T. (Yours Truly) in the review.

We'd also suggest you take a look at how DeviantArt has been conceptualizing Snow Crash.

https://www.deviantart.com/search?q=snowcrash

Which image do you think best depicts Hiro?

The first chapters have Hiro describing himself and others as hackers.

Have you ever read the Hacker Manifesto?

Do you have these students in your classes?

Discussion Prompts for Discord (https://discord.com/invite/SKyH96u3G9)

• Which parts of Stephenson's future are the most compelling to you, and why?

• Why do Hiro and Y.T. make such a good team?

• Do you think the Metaverse is an accurate projection of what virtual reality will look like in the future? Why or why not?

• Would you rather live in a U-Stor-It or a Burbclave? Why?

• Describe Uncle Enzo's business model. What does it remind you of in our world?

• Would you rather have Hiro or Y.T. at your back in a bar fight? How about a diamond heist or a hostage situation?

• Speaking in tongues: creepy, or really creepy? What we mean to ask is, how does controlling someone through language let you control their very personhood?

• Stephenson's style is, er, inventive to say the least. How do you think his writing style contributes to the plot and messages of the book?

• Why do you think Uncle Enzo, Mr. Lee, and Ng banded together to try to stop Rife?