Islands in the Net Quotes

“Maybe people don't prize possessions now like they did in the premillenium. How could they? All their money goes into the Net. For games, or business, or television—things that come over the wires.”
― Bruce Sterling, Islands in the Net

“The rhythm built up, high resonant notes from the buzzing xylophone, the off-scale dipping warble of the flute, the eerie, strangely primeval bass of the synthesizer.
The others punctuated the music with claps and sudden piercing shrieks from behind their veils. Suddenly one began to sing in Tamashek.
"He sings about his synthesizer," Gresham murmured.
"What does he say?"

I humbly adore the acts of the Most High,
Who has given to the synthesizer what is better than a soul.
So that, when it plays, the men are silent,
And their hands cover their veils to hide their emotions.
The troubles of life were pushing me into the tomb,
But thanks to the synthesizer,
God has given me back my life.”
― Bruce Sterling, Islands in the Net

“Guys who were all Papa Docs and Step-pin’ Razors and Whippin’ Sticks.”
― Bruce Sterling, Islands in the Net

“Its suspension whirled them with oily ease across the pitted and weedy tarmac.”
― Bruce Sterling, Islands in the Net

“The point is to cut the feedback relationship between terrorism and the global media.”
― Bruce Sterling, Islands in the Net

“You know when it really got bad here? When they tried to help. With medicine. And irrigation. They sank deep wells, with sweet, flowing water, and of course, the
nomads settled there. So instead of moving their herds on, leaving the pastures a chance to recover, they ate everything down to bare rock for miles around every well. And the eight, nine children that African women have borne from time immemorial--they all lived. It wasn't that the world didn't care. They struggled heroically, for generations, selflessly and nobly. To achieve an atrocity.”
― Bruce Sterling, Islands in the Net

“Chad [...] The Sudan [...] Algeria and Libya [...] Ethiopia [...] All of them drawing venom from the lethal inheritance of the last century, a staggering tonnage of
outdated armaments passed from government to government at knock-down prices. From America to Pakistan to mujahedeen to a Somalian splinter group with
nothing to recommend it but a holy desperation for martyrdom...From Russia to a cadre of bug-eyed Marxists strongmen shooting anything that even looked like a bourgeois intellectual...Billions in aid had been poured into the sub-Sahara, permanently warping governments into bizarre funnels of debt and greed, and as the situation worsened more and more arms were necessary for "order" and "stability" and "national security", the outside world heaved a cynical sigh of relief as its lethal junk was disposed of to people still desperate to kill each other...”
― Bruce Sterling, Islands in the Net

“Guys with imagination [...] visionaries [...] we need elbow room. Space to relax. An outfit like Biogen, it ends up with bureaucrats. Drones. That's why they are not getting anywhere.”
― Bruce Sterling, Islands in the Net

“This is work," Andrei said. "Not a game."
"We don't make that distinction," David told him seriously. "We do not have to 'work' in Rizome—just things to do and people to do them.”
― Bruce Sterling, Islands in the Net

“The terms of the Vienna Convention require me to tell you of your legal position. First, your speech is being recorded and you are being filmed. Your statements
will be kept on file by various agencies of Vienna Convention signatory governments. I am not required to specify these agencies or the number or the amount or location of the data from this investigation. Vienna treaty investigations are not subject to freedom-of-information or privacy laws.”
― Bruce Sterling, Islands in the Net

“The Net was a lot like television, another former wonder of the age. The Net was a vast glass mirror. It reflected what it was shown. Mostly human banality.
​”
― Bruce Sterling, Islands in the Net

“They never forget what they can’t have”
― Bruce Sterling, Islands in the Net

“Because you’re a straight, Laura.” “Stop calling me that!” Laura said. “What makes you so different?” “Look at you,” Carlotta said. “You’re educated. You’re smart. You’re beautiful. You’re married to a goddamn architect. You have a wonderful baby and friends in high places.” Her eyes narrowed; she began to hiss. “Then look at me. I’m a cracker. Ugly. No family. Daddy used to beat me up. I never finished school—I can’t hardly read and write. I’m diselxic, or whatever they call it. You ever wonder what happens to people who can’t read and write? In your fucking beautiful Net world with all its fucking data? No, you never thought of that, did you? If I found a place for myself, it was in the teeth of people like you.”
― Bruce Sterling, Islands in the Net

“If America suffers from drugs, perhaps you should ask what America is lacking, [“What an asshole,”] Eric King commented suddenly. They ignored him.”
― Bruce Sterling, Islands in the Net

“Hey, check this cheap-shot fascist shit,” David muttered, just for the record.”
― Bruce Sterling, Islands in the Net