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
