Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson - age suitability?

[ThreeBeeOneGee]

We try to guide our children towards reading books that are appropriate for their age group. I realise that other parents do things differently, but I'm not asking for opinions about that on this thread.

What I am asking is this: if you do restrict your children's reading by age (or if you can hypothetically imagine doing so), at what age would you let them read 'Snow Crash' by Neal Stephenson?

With children's and YA novels, I usually have a fair idea of age suitability, but this one has me stumped (even though I've read it, I read it as an adult).

Thanks.

If you've already read it and can't decide if it's suitable for your kids then I don't see how we can decide for you?

Sorry I'm not much help.

DS1 (thirteen this week) has asked to read it after a recommendation from a friend at school.

I will probably suggests he waits a year or two (it's basically about drug use and I seem to remember a rape too).

There is plenty of advice online about age recommendations for children's and YA fiction, but when it comes to adult fiction, are we supposed to just leave them to it once they turn... what? 14? 16? 18?

I wouldnt restrict but would suggest they might find it rather confusing and might find some other books better. Cryptonomicon and Zodiac might be.easier, or the Baroque Cycle.
Most of Snow Crash is about computer games and.hacking - I suspect the drug use would hardly be noticed in passing. I'd prefer a teen to read Snow Crash than say Twilight or sensationalist or sex-stereotyped stuff.

My own children are younger but other family teens have been allowed anything their parents have read and get.talked to about it. Seems to work - I know they sometimes avoided reading really crap books at home as it was too embarrassing when mum asked why a female.character didn't have a brain...

Thanks, notcitrus; I agree that Snow Crash might be too complex for him and I enjoyed Cryptonomicon so will have a look at that as a suggestion for him to read first.