The last third is actually not that bad ... if you just accept that it's more or less a separate novel loosely set in the same universe. But about 5000 years later. The first two parts are pretty awesome. I enjoy the last bit as well. It gets better on re-reading.
I don’t think it was very good, it probably because it was too short. It’s basically a novella that severed as a kind of extended epilogue. It would have been better as a fully extended book two with space to develop all the characters and themes.
I read snow crash, loved the first half, the end was really weird to me.
I get the sense that Stephenson is really good at starting a novel, setting the scene and building a world that's ripe for some great storytelling. But from my limited experience the end is a total cascade of craziness that leaves the reader frustrated.
Interesting; this is reminiscent of the TV show "Space: 1999" about the Moon being blasted out of orbit and across the galaxy. While the premise was ridiculous, the show's first season was very quirky and quite enjoyable and explored some interesting themes. The second season, not so much.
I also enjoyed Space: 1999; seen as a kid when it was first aired then watched again years later. Yes, it lost a lot in the 2nd season, but the 1st was really good with bleak and less cheesy plots compared to other series. Of course one must ignore science and suspend their belief to a zeppelin to watch it, still it was really enjoyable. One of the old series, along with UFO (by the same creators) of which I'd love to see a modern reboot.
I have to disagree about a modern reboot (of Space: 1999; I haven't seen UFO). The entire premise is just so ridiculous that I don't see how to reboot it at all. It's fun to watch as a product of the 1970s, and knowing that standards for realism were much, much lower back then, but in the 2020s, a show with such bad science, I think won't fly, especially after we've seen The Expanse. Campy stuff from the 1970s is fine, because the 70s were famous for campy sci-fi (and everything else), but not now.
Marvel is pretty soft scifi even when it doesn't have actual magic, so it's probably fine.
Just change it from "all the nukes exploded and pushed the moon into interstellar space" to "experimental warp drive exploded on launch pad", and you're set.
Hmm… just realised, the basic setup of Space 1999 is kinda what happened with Stargate Universe; I'd say the latter's problem was aping BSG with grit and drama, as there was plenty of room for silly fun scifi in all three Stargate series.
