Snow Crash by Neal Stephanson

In the depiction of alternative realities especially ones involving the future it always seems necessary to comment on the authoritarian nature of the governments of the world and how quickly we can spiral out of control. Where Snow Crash takes a different take on such a universal idea is switching the role of the state his reality on its head. Where in this America exists in a state of extreme decentralization unusual for works of a similar Sci-Fi nature. Instead of being controlled by organized crime and large corporations who are much more important than the role of the government. With similar authoritarian undertones, the technocratic corporatism of the world allows for commentary on societies' relationships with brands as well as the state. What happens when the brand is the state? How is it to live in the United States of Amazon? The scariest part of this is the idea isn’t too far-fetched. With recent talks in the government of the power of especially telecom corporations and the government’s reluctance to deal with them due to the worry of “capital flight” the idea of a government giving up all control to its companies seems reasonable. Can a modern government break even break up a monopoly corporation when it reaches a certain size? The greatest bit of commentary to this weakness in the government to act on corporations is the emphasized nature of a pizza delivery driver. For he is more valuable in this world then the government could ever hope to be.