Sotheby’s to auction Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash manuscript with first mention of the term ‘metaverse’

At Sotheby’s auction, the manuscript of Neal Stephenson’s cult novel Snow Crash is on display. The work is believed to include the first appearance of the term ‘metaverse’.

“This Snow Crash thing—is it a virus, a drug, or a religion?”

Sotheby’s is excited to announce Snow Crash – an offering of physical and digital items connected to the revolutionary 1992 science fiction novel by @nealstephenson. https://t.co/lvqYJKXWuU

Bidding opens 27 February. pic.twitter.com/SnkFVhpU1v

— Sotheby’s (@Sothebys) February 23, 2023

Among the lots are works by artist Tony Shider for a collaboration with the science-fiction writer on a graphic novel concept, Dioxin Posse, which inspired Snow Crash.

Also on offer is a sword replica from the novel by Wētā Workshop, in a bundle with an NFT, and a number of other items.

Sotheby’s noted that “Snow Crash” also helped popularize the term ‘avatar’. James Cameron has cited the work as a major source of inspiration for his projects.

“Stephenson’s depiction of a hyper-capitalist, post-national, arch-liberal future may be fiction, but it is, one could argue, the source code for much of the modern world—from the metaverse to cryptocurrency, mobile computing, augmented reality and much else,” the auction house said.

Experts from Sotheby’s expect the manuscript to fetch about $40,000–60,000.

Earlier, ForkLog, in an exclusive material, reported on several metaverses you can join right now.