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Comment by kreyenborgi | Hacker News Reader

I too started on Snow Crash feeling like "this is going to be great", since it was recommended next to books I enjoyed like Neuromancer. But the pseudo-scientific feel of the Sumerian stuff just completely turned me off, I couldn't decide whether it was meant to be serious or a parody of really bad cyberpunk.

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It telegraphs very strongly that it's not meant to be taken seriously. The main character's name is Hiro Protagonist, for example.

> The main character's name is Hiro Protagonist, for example.

It actually isn’t. That is the name he works under, a sort of stage name, as he styles himself as a sort of programmer celebrity. His actual name is Hiroaki. (This is mentioned in the book.)

Is that true? 1) I can't remember that 2) I've never heard anyone say that 3) my grep is coming up empty.

I'm not explicitly saying you're lying but I'd like more evidence.

It’s used on the high score board after his VR sword fight.

I'm not sure that really works out too much better, because his last name is still Protagonist. Unless there's some other part of the book that says otherwise.

When he gives his business card to Y.T. at the start of the book:

“Stupid name,” she says, shoving the card into one of a hundred little pockets on her coverall.

“But you'll never forget it,” Hiro says.

I.e. the name is an obvious marketing gimmick.

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