William Gibson popularized CYBERPUNK as a Sci Fi sub-genre. It happened at an era of Nu Wave, Electronica, Nintendo, Atari, and Apple computers-- all products of the postmodern science & technology. Even if Bruce Sterling first coined the word "cyberspace," it was his friend William Gibson who used and explored the concept well to define a sub-genre to the delight of loyal Sci Fi readers.
The merit of this novel goes beyond than being the first, or being a double winner as best novel in Hugo and Nebula Awards, or being shortlisted in Time Magazine's 100 Best Novel of the 20th Century.
The book's real merit comes from its sincere exploration and philosophical debate on the concept and paradigm of Technology and Metaphor. In this book, the classic tension (or dichotomy) between Good and Evil took place between two major and Godlike AIs.
Just like what Samuel Delany and Adam Roberts wrote about this novel, the book is poetic, erotic, and a work of art. I want to add that it's also highly enjoyable and thought-provoking. I suspect that this book is an inspiration of later sci fi works like the anime LAIN (Serial Experiments) and GHOST IN THE SHELL. These two animations influenced the Wachowskis' MATRIX Series and the rest they say, is history.
If you haven't read this book or any Sci Fi novel but plans to read one this year I recommend you to try this novel.
some memorable passages:
The bartender's smile widened. His ugliness was the stuff of legend. In an age of affordable beauty, there was something heraldic about his lack of it.
"To call up a demon you must learn its name. Men dreamed that, once, but now it is real in another way. You know that, Case. Your business is to learn the names of programs, the long formal names, names the owners seek to conceal."
Rating: 4 shurikens out of 5
Genre: Sci Fi, Cyberpunk
There's a wonderful essay about the AI's that become Angie's Bright Ones, the deities of cyberspace. It's online, I'll try to find it for you and post the link here.
ReplyDeleteI just saw William Gibson's comment to you via Twitter, that he'd never seen this cover of Neuromancer. Very K E W L that he contacted you!
A less well-known William Gibson book (and maybe his only anthology of short stories?) is Burning Chrome. Some of the stories are set in the same near future time-space as Neuromancer, and most were really good, best I can recall.
I like your fish!
WOW. William Gibson saw it? Cool! The cover here is actually from the Brazilian edition. I'm planning to read Burning Chrome especially the Johnny Mnemonic story. Can't wait for your link...
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