Announcing SNOW CRASH by Neal Stephenson

 

“He knows one thing: The Metaverse has now become a place where you can get killed. Or at least have your brain reamed out to the point where you might as well be dead. This is a radical change in the nature of the place. Guns have come to Paradise.”

 

 

Few novels have shaped the digital age like Snow Crash. A mind-bending fusion of cyberpunk, satire, and linguistic theory, Neal Stephenson’s groundbreaking work redefined speculative fiction and foresaw the rise of virtual worlds, digital economies, and the internet as we know it. Now, Subterranean Press and Conversation Tree Press are proud to announce their joint edition of this seminal novel.

First published in 1992, Snow Crash is a visionary exploration of virtual reality, information warfare, and the power of language in shaping human consciousness. 

Set in a fractured, hyper-capitalist America where corporations wield more power than governments, the novel follows Hiro Protagonist—hacker, swordsman, and pizza delivery driver—as he moves between the physical world and the Metaverse. This virtual world is a sprawling digital landscape where avatars interact, economies thrive, and a mysterious virus threatens to blur the boundaries between code and consciousness.

Blending high-octane action with philosophical inquiries into the power of language, Snow Crash didn’t just predict the digital future—it helped shape it, earning cult status in the process.

 

Edition Information

Snow Crash will be published as a limited edition of 426 copies in two states: 400 Deluxe copies numbered #1–400 and 26 Lettered copies inscribed A–Z. All copies will be signed by the author and artist, with all artwork included in both states.

Tony Geer from Conversation Tree Press will be leading the design in consultation with Bill Schafer and Geralyn Lance of Subterranean Press.

The edition will feature the new Introduction along with two previously unreleased scenes, published in script format, which first appeared in the 30th Anniversary edition.

It will be letterpress-printed by Nomad Letterpress and feature newly commissioned artwork, a thoughtfully designed interior, and premium binding materials.

Each copy will be hand-bound by Ludlow Bookbinders, with a trim size of 170mm × 240mm (6.7in × 9.5in).

We aim to have as little time as possible between accepting orders and shipping copies. Orders are expected to open, and delivery made, some time in 2026. See the FAQ section for more information on pre-orders.

 

Typography

Snow Crash will be typeset in Martin Majoor’s award-winning Nexus superfamily of four interconnected typefaces: Nexus Serif, Nexus Sans, Nexus Mix, and Nexus Typewriter.

The Nexus family is built on a shared foundation, with each typeface manifesting a different expression of the same core form. Martin’s starting point was Nexus. From there, Nexus Sans was designed as the sans serif counterpart, followed by Nexus Mix, a slab-serif-inspired variation derived from the sans. Nexus Typewriter completes the set with its distinct monospaced style.

This typographic structure mirrors the world of Snow Crash—just as users in the Metaverse shape their virtual selves while remaining tethered to their underlying identity, the Nexus superfamily transforms across styles while maintaining a fundamental coherence.

The breadth of the Nexus family of typefaces also allows us to style the full range of text elements, from main content to quotes and computer output, with clarity and distinction, ensuring they are all integrated while maintaining their unique visual identity.

 

Title Page Design

 

 

On the title page, three of the four Nexus typefaces—Serif, Sans, and Mix—are superimposed, each spelling out “SNOW CRASH.” Printed in cyan, magenta, and yellow on separate runs, the layers will blend where they overlap, creating new colours and intersections. 

Just as avatars in the digital world can take on different forms while remaining tied to the same underlying self, the typefaces in Nexus shift in structure yet originate from the same core design. When overprinted, they merge and transform, much like the way digital and physical realities blur in Snow Crash.

Unlike the precise, uniform printing of the main text, the ink coverage on the roller will fluctuate throughout the press run of each of the three colors. Spread across three separate runs, this variation will create subtle colour shifts in the title text across all books as the overlapping layers interact.

 

Letterpress Printing by Nomad Letterpress

Pat Randle and Ellen Bills at Nomad Letterpress in Gloucestershire, England will be printing Snow Crash. They have a long history of printing Matrix magazine, a book arts periodical, for Whittington Press; a number of Conversation Tree Press books; and their own editions.

Hand Binding by Ludlow Bookbinders

Ludlow Bookbinders, located in Shropshire, England have been keeping the craft of English bookbinding alive for generations. They’ve hand bound a number of Conversation Tree Press editions, and we’re looking forward to collaborating with them on Snow Crash.

 

Neal Stephenson

Neal Stephenson is the author of New York Times bestsellers including The Diamond Age, Zodiac, Cryptonomicon, Quicksilver, The Confusion, The System of the World, REAMDE, Anathem, Seveneves, Fall; or Dodge in Hell, and Termination Shock, as well as nonfiction works such as In The Beginning . . . Was the Command Line. He has worked for Blue Origin and Magic Leap, and more recently co-founded Lamina1, a startup creating an open metaverse platform.

 

FAQs

Is this edition of Snow Crash a Subterranean Press book or a Conversation Tree Press Book?
It is a Subterranean Press book and a Conversation Tree Press book—it is being copublished by both. 

How did this come about?
Bill and Tony have known each other for twenty years. When they met, Tony was designing websites for fantasy and science fiction publishers and authors and Bill hired him to design the Subterranean Press website. A friendship developed and they continued to keep in touch over the years, so when an opportunity came along to work together on Snow Crash, they took it. 

How will this edition be different from the one previously published by Subterranean Press?
This will be a completely new edition of Snow Crash—new artwork, new interior layout and typesetting, new trim size, and new bindings. Tony Geer from Conversation Tree Press will be leading the design in consultation with Bill Schafer and Geralyn Lance of Subterranean Press. 

Will copies be available on the Subterranean Press Website or the Conversation Tree Website?
Each Press will have half the limitation to sell: 200 Deluxe copies and 13 Lettered copies will be available on both the Subterranean Press and Conversation Tree websites. 

How will rights work?
Decisions regarding rights will be made closer to publication. 

When will pre-orders open?
We aim to have as little time as possible between accepting orders and shipping books. Orders are expected to open, and delivery made, some time in 2026. 

Where will copies be shipped from?
All copies will be shipped from Subterranean Press in Michigan, U.S., whether a collector ordered a copy from the Subterranean Press website or the Conversation Tree Press website.  

Will Neal Stephenson be signing?
Yes, the author will be signing all copies.