This weekend I finished re-reading Snow Crash, the seminal 1992 cyberpunk novel by Neal Stephenson that was a central inspiration for the virtual world Second Life. Snow Crash is in my top five sci-fi novels and I have re-read it several times over the years. But its been at least five years since I have lost myself in the strange adventures of Hiro Protagonist and Y.T. in a dystopian Southern California landscape.
Coincidentally, 3pointD broke the news that SL marketing company Rivers Run Red is working on a virtual version of the novel to be distributed in-world. Why anyone would want to read a virtual book in this fashion is beyond me. It’s just a completely backwards implementation of a immersive 3D environment trying to be exactly like the real world.
Now, if they go ahead and re-create the "Black Sun" hackers club or a Mr. Lee’s Greater Hong Kong franchise or the Raft, then we’re talking fun. I’ll be the first to strap on my katana, power up Reason and rezz in.
Ah, Black Sun club–ask Oz Spade about that, he once made one! And Mr. Lee’s? Hehe talk to Chrischun Fassbinder, he’s got a cheeky twist on the whole thang. =)