Near future, United States.
"In the near future, Americans excel at only two things: writing software and delivering pizza in less than 30 minutes.... Franchises line the freeway as far as the eye can see: Reverend Wayne's Pearly Gates, Mr. Lee's Greater Hong Kong, Uncle Enzo's CosaNostra Pizza, Incorporated. The only relief from the sea of logos is within the well-guarded borders of the Burbclaves.
"Is it any wonder that most sane folks have forsaken the real world and chosen to live in the computer-generated universe of virtual reality? Here, in a major city the size of a dozen Manhattans, is a domain of pleasures limited only by the imagination. But now a strange new computer virus called Snow Crash is striking down hackers everywhere, leaving an unlikely young man as humankind's last best hope.
"In reality, Hiro Protagonist delivers pizza for the CosaNostra. But in the Metaverse, he's a warrior prince, last of the solo hackers, and the greatest sword fighter in the world. Now, he's racing along the neon-lit streets, the skirts of his black leather kimono flapping, on a search-and-destroy mission for the shadowy virtual villain threatening to bring about infocalypse!" [jacket blurb, US trade pbk, 1992]
"Dark prospects, fun handling. This is a cyberpunk classic, loaded with thought-provoking ideas and powerful visuals." --Henry W.Targowski (in Mark/Space , 1995).
Truly enjoyable
Highly recommended.
*note: "Do you know anything about the movie Snow Crash? I heard a few years ago from Neal (an interview) that it was supposed to come around May 1997 or so...But I can't find more info...Can you help?" --Porkchop.
