I'm losing faith in film as a vehicle for good science fiction.

[KrazyHorse]

They're generally classified as postcyberpunk.

No.

[KrazyHorse]

"The Diamond Age" could be considered "postcyberpunk" (a label I hate, BTW) but Snow Crash is definitely cyberpunk.

[Lorizael]

From what I understand, Snow Crash is considered postcyberpunk because of its widespread satirization of cyberpunk tropes. I mean, come on, the main character is named Hiro Protagonist, runs around with a katana, and delivers pizza.

[Kuciwalker]

Snow Crash led the way for the postcyberpunk, but it requires more than just satire of cyberpunk. Postcyberpunk involves an essentially positive view of the way technology will transform our society.

Snow Crash involves a dystopian future. The Diamond Age doesn't involve a utopian one, but one that is still better than the present.

And then Stephenson wrote Cryptonomicon so as to be completely unclassifiable

[Jon Miller]

I liked Diamond Age and Snow Crash... but his endings are terrible.

JM

[Guynemer]

Not another word, Jon.

[loinburger]

I liked Diamond Age and Snow Crash... but his endings are terrible.

What endings?

[Lorizael]

Snow Crash led the way for the postcyberpunk, but it requires more than just satire of cyberpunk. Postcyberpunk involves an essentially positive view of the way technology will transform our society.

Snow Crash involves a dystopian future. The Diamond Age doesn't involve a utopian one, but one that is still better than the present.

And then Stephenson wrote Cryptonomicon so as to be completely unclassifiable

That's fair. I'll note, though, that wikipedia says I'm right.

[KrazyHorse]

From what I understand, Snow Crash is considered postcyberpunk because of its widespread satirization of cyberpunk tropes. I mean, come on, the main character is named Hiro Protagonist, runs around with a katana, and delivers pizza.

Yes, and the antagonist is a crazed Aleut with a harpoon, a hydrogen bomb in the sidecar of his motorcycle and the words "POOR IMPULSE CONTROL" tattooed on his forehead. It doesn't matter if it manages to be self-satirical. It's still firmly cyberpunk.

[Guynemer]

And funny as hell.

[Kuciwalker]

I liked Diamond Age and Snow Crash... but his endings are terrible.

JM

What loin said.

[KrazyHorse]

That's fair. I'll note, though, that wikipedia says I'm right.

No, it doesn't.

[Lorizael]

You're no Stephen Colbert.

[KrazyHorse]

Yes, I am.

[KrazyHorse]

Wiki vandals like Lori interfering with serious internet business