All Tomorrow's Parties (Bridge, #3)

by William Gibson

DEEP IN

recognition of

the nature of the universe. How nothing is perfect, really. Nothing ever finished. Everything is process,

“. . . recognition of the nature of the universe. How nothing is perfect, really. Nothing ever finished. Everything is process, . . .” Reference Gibson, William (1999, Oct. 7). “All Tomorrow's Parties.” Kindle Edition, Chapter 3 Deep In, p. 13.

He’s not quite sure how he got here; things got a little fuzzy around the time the syndrome kicked in. Some kind of state change, some global shift in the nature of his perception. Insufficient memory. Things hadn’t stuck.

“He’s not quite sure how he got here; things got a little fuzzy around the time the syndrome kicked in. Some kind of state change, some global shift in the nature of his perception. Insufficient memory. Things hadn’t stuck.” Reference Gibson, William (1999, Oct. 7). “All Tomorrow's Parties.” Kindle Edition, Chapter 3 Deep In, p. 13.

“Use the ATM at the Lucky Dragon, near the entrance to the bridge. Then present your identification at the GlobEx franchise at the rear of the store.” “Why?” “They’re holding something for you.”

““Use the ATM at the Lucky Dragon, near the entrance to the bridge. Then present your identification at the GlobEx franchise at the rear of the store.” “Why? “They’re holding something for you.”” Reference Gibbons, William (1999, Oct. 7). “All Tomorrow’s Parties.” Chapter 18 Selwyn Tong, p. 78 of 278, 29%.

“Transaction completed,” the ATM said. Rydell turned back in time to see a Lucky Dragon credit chip emerge from the chip slot. He shoved it partway back in, to see the available come up on the screen. Not bad. Not bad at all. He pocketed the chip, put his wallet away, and turned toward the GlobEx concession, which also doubled as the local USPO. Like the ATM, this was another purpose-built node or swelling in the same plastic wall. They hadn’t had one of these on Sunset, and Praisegod had had to double as GlobEx clerk and/or USPO employee, the latter causing her occasionally to frown, as her parents’ sect identified all things federal as aspects of Satan.

““Transaction completed,” the ATM said. Rydell turned back in time to see a Lucky Dragon credit chip emerge from the chip slot. He shoved it partway back in, to see the available come up on the screen. Not bad. Not bad at all. He pocketed the chip, put his wallet away, and turned toward the GlobEx concession, which also doubled as the local USPO. Like the ATM, this was another purpose-built node or swelling in the same plastic wall. They hadn’t had one of these on Sunset, and Praisegod had had to double as GlobEx clerk and/ or USPO employee, the latter causing her occasionally to frown, as her parents’ sect identified all things federal as aspects of Satan.” Reference Gibbons, William (1999, Oct. 7). “All Tomorrow’s Parties.” Chapter 21 Paragon Asia, p. 90 of 278, 33%.

He knows that the words he hears come in from a tiny, grotesquely expensive piece of dedicated real estate somewhere in the planet’s swarm of satellites.

“He knows that the words he hears come in from a tiny, grotesquely expensive piece of dedicated real estate somewhere in the planet’s swarm of satellites.” Reference Gibbons, William (1999, Oct. 7). “All Tomorrow’s Parties.” Chapter 23, Russian Hill, p. 97 of 278, 36%.

He had the GlobEx box across his lap. Gingerly, remembering how he’d cut himself back in LA, he used the tip of the blade to slit the gray tape. It went through the stuff like a wire through butter. When he got it to the point where he thought he’d be able to open it, he cautiously folded the knife and put it away. Then he lifted the lid. At first he thought he was looking at a thermos bottle, one of those expensive brushed-stainless numbers, but as

he lifted it out, the heft of it and the general fineness of manufacture told him it was something else. He turned the thing over, finding an inset rectangular section with a cluster of micro-sockets, but nothing else except a slightly scuffed blue sticker that said FAMOUS ASPECT. He shook it. It neither sloshed nor rattled. Felt solid, and there was no visible lid or other way to open it.

“He had the GlobEx box across his lap. Gingerly, remembering how he’d cut himself back in LA, he used the tip of the blade to slit the gray tape. It went through the stuff like a wire through butter. When he got it to the point where he thought he’d be able to open it, he cautiously folded the knife and put it away. Then he lifted the lid. At first he thought he was looking at a thermos bottle, one of those expensive brushed-stainless numbers, but as he lifted it out, the heft of it and the general fineness of manufacture told him it was something else. He turned the thing over, finding an inset rectangular section with a cluster of micro-sockets, but nothing else except a slightly scuffed blue sticker that said FAMOUS ASPECT. He shook it. It neither sloshed nor rattled. Felt solid, and there was no visible lid or other way to open it.” Reference Gibbons, William (1999, Oct. 7). “All Tomorrow’s Parties.” Chapter 24 Two Lights on Behind, p. 102 of 278, 38%.

He wore that hearing-secret-harmonies expression people wore when they tuned guitars.

“He wore that hearing-secret-harmonies expression people wore when they tuned guitars.” Reference Gibbons, William (1999, Oct. 7). “All Tomorrow’s Parties.” Chapter 24 Two Lights on Behind, p. 103 of 278, 38%.

All his life Laney has heard talk of the death of history, but confronted with the literal shape of all human knowledge, all human memory, he begins to see the way in which

there never really has been any such thing. No history. Only the shape, and it comprised of lesser shapes, in squirming fractal descent, on down into the infinitely finest of resolutions. But there is will. “Future” is inherently plural.

“All his life Laney has heard talk of the death of history, but confronted with the literal shape of all human knowledge, all human memory, he begins to see the way in which there never really has been any such thing. No history. Only the shape, and it comprised of lesser shapes, in squirming fractal descent, on down into the infinitely finest of resolutions. But there is will. “Future” is inherently plural.” Reference Gibbons, William (1999, Oct. 7). “All Tomorrow’s Parties.” Chapter 25 Suit, p. 107 of 279, 39%.

“Wait,” said the kid, raising his hands. “I gotta tell you: there’s a ’bot under there. It’s got your cables. It just wants to give ’em to you, but I didn’t want you to get the wrong idea.”

““Wait,” said the kid, raising his hands. “I gotta tell you: there’s a ’bot under there. It’s got your cables. It just wants to give ’em to you, but I didn’t want you to get the wrong idea.”” Reference Gibbons, William (1999, Oct. 7). “All Tomorrow’s Parties.” Chapter 29 Vicious Cycle, p. 123 of 279, 45%.

Specialist dealers wanted low wholesale, basically, so they could whip the big markup to collectors. If you were a collector, Fontaine figured, specialist dealers were nature’s way of telling you you had too much money to begin with.

“Specialist dealers wanted low wholesale, basically, so they could whip the big markup to collectors. If you were a collector, Fontaine figured, specialist dealers were nature’s way of telling you you had too much money to begin with.” Reference Gibbons, William (1999, Oct. 7). “All Tomorrow’s Parties.” Chapter 24 Another One, p. 127 of 278, 47%.