"LAST OF THE FREELANCE HACKERS, GREATEST SWORD FIGHTER IN THE WORLD": FIRST EDITION OF NEAL STEPHENSON'S SNOW CRASH

STEPHENSON, Neal. Snow Crash. New York: Bantam Books, (1992). Octavo, original half navy cloth, original dust jacket. $5500.

First edition of Stephenson's high-concept, high-energy novel of the Metaverse—"a permanent virtual reality… that has taken on a life (and death) of its own" (New York Times).

Set in "an onrushing tomorrow that is as farcical as it is horrific" (New York Times), Stephenson's acclaimed third novel—it earned a spot on Time's list of the 100 best English-language novels written since 1923—established him as a major voice in modern science fiction. It also popularized the use of the word "avatar" in computer gaming and online interactions. "A complex stew of cyberspace high jinks, religion, off-the-wall humor and action-adventure sequences… Snow Crash is a genuinely dazzling novel" (Anatomy of Wonder II-1077). Issued simultaneously in hardcover and paperback; the hardcover issue is far scarcer.

Book in fine condition; dust jacket with one closed tear to front flap, otherwise fine.