A novel by Neal Stephenson (1992).
de: ISBN 344245302X
Wikipedia:Snow_Crash
"This Snow Crash - what is it? Drug, Virus, or Religion?" "What's the difference?"
Snow Crash is both, a computer virus, capable of infecting the brains of unwary hackers in the Metaverse, and a drug in reality being marketed through a nearly-untraceable chain of sources.
The Metaverse can be accessed through public-access terminals in reality (low visual quality of the rendered avatar) or through a private terminal, making it possible to customize your avatar, is possible from almost any location using portable devices. In the Metaverse, status is a function of two things: access to restricted environments (such as the Black Sun, an exclusive Metaverse club) and technical acumen (often demonstrated by the sophistication of one's avatar).
Science Fiction Inventions From Snow Crash
- Arachnofiber Uniforms - Spidey delivers pizza
- Avatar - godlike poseurs
- Burbclave - autonomous suburban enclave
- CIC Virtual Earth - google earth
- Data Goggles - immerse yourself in the matrix
- Dentata - anti-rape device worn internally
- Hypercard - it sure carries a lot of weight
- Loglo - highway light signature
- Loogie Gun - can't we have nonviolent AND sanitary?
- MagnaPoon - as in harpoon
- Smart Box - your pizza knows if it's late
- Smart Wheels - variable length spokes
- U-Stor-It - go store yourself
related: Cyberpunk