Author: William Gibson
Genre: Science Fiction, Cyberpunk
Published: 1984
My Content Rating: R for sex, language, and violence
Cliffhanger Ending: No
Case is a washed-up computer hacker; a toxic enzyme from some folks he double-crossed ensures he can never jack into the matrix again. He spends his nights trying to get himself killed in the seamier side of Japan when he's approached by a mysterious man named Armitage and his muscle: a woman with mirrors for eyes and blades in her fingers. Armitage says he can give Case his life back, but he needs him for a job tougher than any hacker has ever faced.
Case is so totally in.
This novel is what cyberpunk is, guys. You have no idea how much science-fiction is influenced by this story, from Shadowrun to The Matrix. I once put this on a list of 10 sci-fi books every SF fan should know, and it has earned that spot.
And it's totally fun on top of it. The only thing that bugged me at all were the descriptions of cyberspace, which were a lot more amorphous that I would have liked. But it's surprising how well Gibson's imagined tech almost 30 years ago holds up to what we have today.
It's been too long since I've read this one.
ReplyDeleteI actually sort of understand what cyberpunk is now, after reading so many posts about different kinds of steampunk, etc.
ReplyDeleteI linked to your blog on my post today-that critique of my first chapter turned out to have been very helpful. Thanks!
Part 1 of it is such a kick that it should be required reading of anyone who'd like to write well (or know where The Matrix came from).
ReplyDeleteI put off reading it for a long time, thinking I needed to know all about computers, but when Gibson wrote it, he didn't even know how to turn one on. He just liked the slang of the programmers and rolled with it.
It's a misdemeanor in authordom that I haven't read this. :)
ReplyDeleteGah! I STILL haven't read this, even though it's been on my TR list for years.
ReplyDeleteSigh. I really need to rectify that
I am going to have to look for this one. Surely my library has it (one can hope)
ReplyDeleteI read this WAY back in the day. I should probably re-read it for sure.
ReplyDelete