” A Little Flight of Fancy”
This theme can make or break any science fiction author. The theme refers to futuristic technology in sci-fi novels, if the technology is too outlandish it is deemed unbelievable and is looked down upon. As a rule, Neal Stephenson keeps the technology in his novels very much like as it is now, only with something extra. Stephenson says, “I think the best approach is to stay with hard science as far as it can go and then, if you want, go on a little flight of fancy – but try to blur the dividing line a little” (”Diamond Geezer” para. 27). This theme is implemented in all of Stephenson’s books. In Snow Crash the Metaverse is the prevalent technology, and despite its splendor, it is a simple cross between internet, graphical computers, and virtual reality.
Omnipresent Societal Dilemmas
Social tribulations are another common theme among cyberpunk authors. Critics often contrast cyberpunk author’s grim view of the future with Star Trek’s “all society’s problems have been abolished” outlook (Avins 2). Stephenson feels that Star Trek’s logic is, if there is enough for everyone, people will stop fighting and become peaceful (Diamond Geezer para 36). Stephenson also says:
We’re very close to a post-scarcity future right now – at least in my country. There’s poverty, but at least there’s not starvation, except in really odd places, and there’s disease but there’s not plague. There’s not people dying in the streets, and there’s homelessness, but most people can find a roof over their heads if they need it – it may be in a homeless shelter, but it’s something. it certainly hasn’t stopped people being nasty to each other. I mean, look at OJ. He wasn’t lacking for anything, nobody in that sick sub-culture in LA was lacking for anything, but all it did was remove the limits from how tawdry they could be to each other. That’s all post-scarcity did for them – break down the barriers that kept them from being as grotesque as they could theoretically be. (”Diamond Geezer” para. 37)
Stephenson believes that society can never get rid of its problems, because, as long as it is man’s nature to hate, it is also society’s nature. It is this outlook that Neal infuses, as a major theme, into each one of his books.
CONCLUSION
People who enjoy high quality literature should definitely acquaint themselves with Neal Stephenson and his style of writing and attempt to discern what exactly makes Stephenson arguably one of the best authors in the history of the cyberpunk genre. His novels have gained him fame such as the cyberpunk genre has seldom seen. Stephenson has been deemed by critics and colleagues alike the “Hacker Hemmingway” (”Neal Stephenson” screen 1). Stephenson’s skills, and popularity are indeed reminiscent of Hemmingway. As Neal Stephenson’s latest book Cryptonomicon is about to be sold, the fame from preceding novels creates a buzz among a newfound mainstream group of readers. Stephenson should be around writing novel for years to come.
Works Cited
Amazon.com: Buying Info: Zodiac: The Eco-Thriller. 1996: para. 1-20. Amazon.com. 20 February 2001
Amazon.com: Editorial Reviews: Snow Crash. May 2000: para. 1-20. Amazon.com. 20 February 2001
“Breaking the Code with Neal Stephenson.” Addicted To Noise. Ed. Michael Goldberg. June 1995: 1-8. Addicted To Noise. 20 February 2001
Cryptonomicon. 1999: para. 1-7. The Hearst Corporation. 7 February 2001
Chris Nashawaty. “Foreseeable Future.” Entertainment Weekly 23 June 1995. 13 February 2001
“Diamond Geezer.” SFX magazine January 1996: para. 1-79. 4 March 2001
Index.html. Ed. Neal Stephenson. 30 March 1999: para. 1-43. 20 February 2001
Neal Stephenson. Ed. Dag Rambraut. 2001: para 1-15. sffworld.com. 7 February 2001
“Neal Stephenson.” Gale Literary Databases. 1996. Gale Group. 13 February 2001
“Neal Stephenson.” Gale Literary Databases. 5 January 2001. Gale Group. 13 February 2001
“Neal Stephenson.” Gale Literary Databases. 2001. Gale Group. 13 February 2001
Neal Stephenson mines history for his cyberpunk sagas. Ed. Mimi Avins. 12 June 1999. Los Angeles Times. 7 February 2001
“Neal Stephenson.” SFBook.com. Ed. Thomas Christensen. Nov. 1999: para. 1-14. Thomas Christensen. 13 February 2001
“The Diamond Age, Neal Stephenson, Hugo 1996.” Award Winners Review. 1996: para. 1-6. 13 February 2001