Neuromancer is more than twenty years old now, a fact that's a bit astonishing. Written by William Gibson, the blurb claims that the novel 'invented' cyberspace and virtual reality. Bold claims indeed (and perhaps not entirely justified in the case of VR), but there's no denying the fundamental ... Read review
Advantages: Innovative science-fiction and a cracking story Disadvantages: 3 Megabyte RAM couriers
Neuromancer is more than twenty years old now, a fact that's a bit astonishing. Written by William Gibson, the blurb claims that the novel 'invented' cyberspace and virtual reality. Bold claims indeed (and perhaps not entirely justified in the case of VR), but there's no denying the fundamental impact Neuromancer had on the late twentieth century and beyond. This is the source text for the Matrix, not to mention every other film about computers and ... ...lot of great science-fiction novels, Neuromancer builds its world partly through what's left out. We're given hints of a brief but brutal war between the Russians and the Americans, and the repercussions of this float throughout the text, although we never find out a great deal about why the war happened, who started it, and even really who won it. Even the cyberspace technology is described surprisingly loosely, given the ongoing impact the novel ... more
Neuromancer is more than twenty years old now, a fact that's a bit astonishing. Written by William Gibson, the blurb claims that the novel 'invented' cyberspace and virtual reality. Bold claims indeed (and perhaps not entirely justified in the case of VR), but there's no denying the fundamental impact Neuromancer had on the late twentieth century and beyond. This is the source text for the Matrix, not to mention every other film about computers and hackers that you've seen since the late 80s. It has shaped large swathes of the internet, and it has left a huge muddy footprint across science-fiction literature.
Set in an unspecified nearish future, full of cowboys and data jockeys, 24 year old Case has been stripped of his ability to jack into cyberspace after double-crossing his employers. Rescued from the gutter by the enigmatic Molly, he is coerced into an audacious campaign of Cyber-crime to further the ends of the mysterious Wintermute.
It is said that nothing dates quicker than the futuristic. The slick mobile phones of The Matrix already look tragic, and what about all those haircuts in Star Wars? This is equally true of literary science-fiction, but Gibson holds up well, with only the occasional bout of breathy excitement about the idea of storing a whole 3MB of RAM in a small container. He also takes the Minority Report (film version) route of grounding his futuristic world in a sea of familiar brand names and cities. You can get your blood flushed out and a new liver from organ banks at a minute's notice, but you can also drink a pint of Carlsberg or Kirin while you're recovering. The novel may eventually see the protagonists in a groovy high-orbit resort, battling against rogue Artificial Intelligences, but it lets you bed in comfortably in bars, hotel rooms and arcades.
Like a lot of great science-fiction novels, Neuromancer builds its world partly through what's left out. We're given hints of a brief but brutal war between the Russians and the Americans, and the repercussions of this float throughout the text, although we never find out a great deal about why the war happened, who started it, and even really who won it. Even the cyberspace technology is described surprisingly loosely, given the ongoing impact the novel has had on our understanding of the relationship between man and computer.
The style for the most part is very readable, and I loved the cyberspace sequences, which are described as a hallucinatory experience with almost spiritual overtones, to reflect the awe that Case has for the matrix. The whole novel is written from Case's point of view, and his journey from suicidal burnout to... well, not suicidal, is a solid progression.
There's violent action to coincide with all the conceptual stuff about AIs and cyberspace. Drugs and sex are never too far away, it's an extremely colourful novel.
I'm truly astonished it took me so long to read Neuromancer, given the number of books I've read that owe it a huge debt (most obviously the Doctor Who New Adventures range from Virgin Publishing in the 90s). The book blisters along at a fantastic pace, discarding more brilliant ideas than some novelists have in a lifetime: cyberspace, virtual reality, AI, computer constructs of dead humans' memories, orbital resorts, Rastafarian colonies, simstim, augmented humans with the power to manipulate holograms, all wrapped up in Japanese-influenced geek chic.
Alongside its cultural importance, Case and Molly are well-drawn characters, and even the apparent cliche of their boss's character, Armitage, becomes a major plot point as events start to unravel. Gibson uses his 'simstim' (technology that enables Case to experience Molly's perceptions while connected to cyberspace) to take in multiple points of view without ever demoting Case as the narrator. You can feel the bond growing between the two characters during these surreal sequences, and it's a great narrative trick.
Just read Neuromancer. It's an unmissable book, and without doubt it's my candidate for the most important novels of the 1980s.
Advantages: Fascinating for anyone with an interest in computing or sci-fi Disadvantages: Can be hard to get your head round!
This book was hailed as the book which invented cyberspace and virtual reality. The new form of sci-fi was labelled "cyberpunk." It has apparently been cited as the force behind many hackers.
"Neuromancer" paints a grim view of the future in which technology has taken over, and humanity is increasingly disappearing. It may have been the inspiration for the "Matrix" movies, I am not sure. Whilst I was reading it I certainly sensed similarities.
... ...a 24 year old ex-console cowboy in the Sprawl, the Boston-Atlanta Metropolitan Axis. His entire world was cyberspace which he used to jack into regularly. The cyberspace of the matrix, a "consensual hallucination". But Case was caught stealing from his employers, who in retaliation destroyed his living and his world within the matrix by messing up his neural circuitry.
Now he is in Chiba looking for a cure, for something to make him whole again. ...
wolfatgoogle 01.10.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Neuromancer - William Gibson
I'd rate Neuromancer as being one of the three most influential future visions created in science fiction along with 1984 and Brave New World. From the concept of cyberspace to a thousand films, X-file episodes and the like it's ideas are repeated over and over I've yet to encounter one however that uses them as well as the original.
Neuromancer is set in the near(ish) future where the internet has moved to it's logical extreme where the information ... ...sort of pseudo alternative dimension (cyberspace). The plot follows a group of individuals brough into a complex conspiarcy plot involving a powerful family dynasty and several artificialy intelligces, never becomes boring and keeps the surprises u coming until the end. What makes the book so great is it's believability, there are countless throw away ideas which are not just believable but often seem worryingly likely and Gibson has suceeded in ...
barney.lawrence 14.07.2000
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Advantages: Refreshing, the book that started a genre Disadvantages: Non worth mentioning
Occasionally a new book comes along thats different, that stands out from the crowd - thats Neuromancer.
Famous for inventing the term 'cyberspace'. Its set in the future where paper money is only used in shady deals and where cyberspace is viewed directly with the mind. The story details the adventure of Case, a hacker who has been subjected to a toxin that prevents him from accessing cyberspace administered after double crossing his employers. ... ...he degenerates to a shell of a man on a downward spiral awaiting the dodgy deal that will get him killed. Then a mysterious man appears offering him a cure to the toxin that he will provide as long as Case does a hacking job for him. Accompanying him is a 'razor girl' a woman with gizmos aplenty solely designed to kill. Together they set about the task before them - which I won't tell you because I don't want to ruin the surprise. Enough is is to ...
eridu 15.07.2000
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Neuromancer is about a console cowboy, Case, who moves in the world of cyberspace as a rogue hacker. Gibson saw the global internet, the world of cyberspace, and an amazing assortment of technology, some of which has already been realized, in a book completed in 1983. He invented the concept of the matrix, the subject of a huge movie, as well as spawning many other movie concepts, insluding the premise of Jonny Mnemonic from just one paragraph of ...
JeffSumm 06.08.2000
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Advantages: First in a great series of books Disadvantages: little hard to under stand
...Neuromancer is based around Case a freelance hacker, who is hired to get into the systems of one of the planets richest families.
Although a little hard to understand to begin with, once into the book opens your eyes on to a dark and all to plausible future. ...
BenC 19.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Neuromancer - William Gibson
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Advantages: fast paced, brilliant story Disadvantages: may be too bizarre for some
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