Neuromancer (Sprawl #1) in On Paths Unknown

Sep 23, 2017 Michael Finocchiaro rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, sci-fi, american-20th-c, novels

William Gibson's Neuromancer is considered a classic in the cyberpunk genre and, indeed, as I read it, I could definitely feel the influence it had other iconic cultural landmarks such as the film The Matrix. The book itself is confusing to say the least: all the characters are jacked up on drugs most of the time and the language becomes confusing as a result. The descriptions of cyberspace are also complex and, of course, visionary - how Gibson could have foreseen some of the insidious ways tha William Gibson's Neuromancer is considered a classic in the cyberpunk genre and, indeed, as I read it, I could definitely feel the influence it had other iconic cultural landmarks such as the film The Matrix. The book itself is confusing to say the least: all the characters are jacked up on drugs most of the time and the language becomes confusing as a result. The descriptions of cyberspace are also complex and, of course, visionary - how Gibson could have foreseen some of the insidious ways that technology would ineluctably enmesh itself with our 21st century lives is truly amazing. The dystopian future that is described - a powerful, mob-ruled Japan, an ambiguous USA referred to as simply the Sprawl, decrepit Istanbul, and the Freeside space station (along with the entertaining rasta guys) - is one in which central power seems to have been passed to organized crime and a sort of cyber-anarchy reins. There do not seem to be any normal (un-modified, undrugged) people - at least none in the story. As for the plot, we follow Case through his Neo-like experiences surfing cyberspace and hacking alongside Flatline - a dead conscience with a redneck accent who lives in a circuit board - as he proceeds on a mission against the powerful (and perverse) Tellier-Ashpool family. He is also able to channel the feelings and experiences of his lover and ersatz altergo Molly while plugged into cyberspace. Overall, the book is mind-blowing in terms of the flipping between difference levels of cyber-reality as Case continues his fight. I have to say that I did not feel much affinity to Case - he is less charismatic than, say, Neo, but Molly was nearly as interesting and attractive as Trinity (although - spoiler alert - things between Case and Molly do not end as they did for Neo and Trinity.) Despite the confusing descriptions and the somewhat flatness of the protagonist, this is still a well-written and fascinating sci-fi book which was immensely influential. I just hope the world we are creating does not end up resembling the anarchic, criminally led world of Case and Molly.
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Sep 27, 2021 Michael Finocchiaro rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: american-20th-c, novels, sci-fi, nebula-award-winner, first-novels, fiction, dystopian, hugo-awards-winner

One of the true scifi classics that inspired so many blockbuster movies. A cyberpunk extravaganza with drugs, sex and lots of tech. A very fun read. I don't know why I didn't write a review immediately after reading it, so to be fair I'll have to reread and write a proper review!

I do recall that it gave me a good visual for listening to Sonic Youth’s song “The Sprawl” on their extraordinary Daydream Nation album. ...more

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Feb 25, 2018 P.E. rated it liked it

Shelves: utopia-dystopia

Un déluge de fantaisie verbale extatique qui m'a sidéré au moment où je l'ai lu.

Matching Soundtrack :
Anything by The Crystal Method, Juno Reactor, Front Line Assembly ...more

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Dec 16, 2022 Lan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

For me, the most impressive feature of Neuromancer is the way Gibson avoided explaining everything in the world of Neuromancer to the reader. Rather, you're thrown into the book and must fend for yourself. This made it a very fun challenge to read: you have to try to make sense of things through the context in which they're presented, imagine various places and objects with scarce information about them, etc. I think because so many gaps are left for the reader to fill in, the book has a much st ...more

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