Neal Stephenson is an American author of science fiction and speculative fiction. He is best known for his works Snow Crash, Cryptonomicon, The Diamond Age, and Anathem. Stephenson's work explores themes of mathematics, cryptography, philosophy, currency, and the history of science. He has also written non-fiction essays on technology, culture, and science. Stephenson's writing style is often described as "cyberpunk," combining elements of science fiction, fantasy, and historical fiction. He has won numerous awards for his writing, including the Arthur C. Clarke Award and the Locus Award. Stephenson is a passionate advocate for the advancement of science and technology, and his work has been praised for its imaginative and thought-provoking ideas.