Although written over 20 years ago, this can still be considered a futuristic novel. A tale about cyberspace written before the internet even existed.
Case, a minor criminal who used to be an elite hacker (“Cowboy”), is approached by the mysterious Armitage and employee Molly to steal data from a major corporation. Case’s abilities were destroyed by a virus after betraying a previous employer but Armitage has the means to reverse this damage, if only temporarily. If Case does not complete the job then poison sacs subsequently implanted into his system will take effect.
On Armitage’s instruction they steal the personality datafile of infamous cowboy Dixie Flatline and enlist the help of a mad ‘holo’ projector Peter Riviera, immersing themselves into a job they barely know why they are doing for an employer they know nothing about, while all the time the strings are being pulled in the background by the corporation Tessier-Ashpool’s Artificial Intelligences – Wintermute and Neuromancer.
Told matter of factly with great clarity, it is a most unusual read and surely the major inspiration for the movie The Matrix. I loved every word of it.
What's the prose like? Mechanical, is does it flow?
ReplyDeleteThe prose is great, Gibson writes as if the future is in the present. He's probably my favourite sci fi writer.
ReplyDeleteWell I own a copy and should read it soon then. Reading a fairly large book at the moment though - another Murakami
ReplyDeleteI've never read Murakami, I noticed on your blog that you have read a few. Kafka on the Shore is on my reading list for this year. He has four books on the 1001 list.
ReplyDeleteWhat 4? Will tell you how many of them I've read
ReplyDeleteKafka on the Shore
ReplyDeleteAfter The Quake
Sputnik Sweetheart
The Wind up Bird Chronicle (I love this title!)