Sotheby's will put up for sale an original manuscript of Neal Stephenson's 1992 science fiction book ‘Snow Crash’. Phrases such as 'metaverse' and 'avatar' first appeared in this work. A generative collection of work by artist Tony Sheeder called Infocalypse, inspired by the Dioxin Posse graphic novel that preceded Snow Crash, is expected to go on sale.
Sotheby's executives have announced that a variety of digital items (NFTs) will be offered for sale on their Metaverse NFT platform. The auction will feature numerous physical and digital memorabilia related to the narrative. These include the handmade sword used by the protagonist, made in the workshop of New Zealand designer Wētā Workshop.
Sotheby's will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the publication of the science fiction book and its impact on the development of technology Web3 and cryptography.
In a press release, Stevenson commented on his way to writing ‘Snow Crash’:
"Half a lifetime ago I started writing with ideas of computer graphics and a satirical cyberpunk future in mind."
This work was an exploration of what life in the digital world might look like in the coming years. Covered with handwritten notes that have now been replaced by digital codes. The book connects today's world of video games and Internet access with the time period in which it was written.
Cassandra Hutton, global manager of science and popular culture at Sotheby's, said that she was delighted to be able to share this knowledge with fans as "their cultural relevance is being revived". Bidding for Snow Crash will start on February 27, 2023 with an estimated price of $40-60,000.
