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jrosenstein's review against another edition
4.0
The Peripheral is a highly entertaining, if highly confusing ride. Set in two different futures, both substantially different from our own, it takes a while to get situated in the worlds. Luckily, Gibson focuses on a main character, Flynne, who is grounded and relatable and helps orient the reader in the middle of all the flying pieces of the plot. Flynne barely understands what's going on and feels completely caught up in forces beyond her control, which gave me permission as a reader to also feel lost and just let myself be carried along in the current. There's no doubt that Gibson has a lot of interesting ideas, and the plot is always moving and propelling you forward. Can I say at the end what it was all about? No. But it was fun along the way.
ruxiemcgouth's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.25
gf3's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
gwcoffey's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve only read a little Gibson, but I love his imaginative future-tech worlds. And I especially love his inventive use of language. I think my favorite example of this is the way the characters in this book use the word “funny”. It has such a distinctive usage in this world, wich is so close to one way we would use it, but then not quite. It becomes a very believable micro-detail in this very-near-but-not-quite-current-future world.
It also makes up for a weak-ish plot with great characterization. I really liked the kind, understated reluctant hero.
raymiesmith's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
jfaberrit's review against another edition
2.0
I usually like William Gibson, but this was an underbaked mess of a book. In the end, what could have made interesting use of the timeline idea instead didn't really use it at all -- the book could have had the two main locations be on different continents without losing anything at all. Details that should have been critical, like the cause of the action that motivates the entire plot, are basically swept away without anything even passing for an explanation, while random characters are introduced throughout to fill plot gaps, without any attempt to explain how they fit into a bigger picture. The technological aspects are admittedly interesting, but the timing is questionable, since peripherals as envisioned in this book are already moving closer to reality, with some treatments for paralysis already actively exploring this field.
Overall, this was a book that could have been much better. For one that did use essentially the same ideas, but in a way that actually, you know, made sense, try Lock In by John Scalzi.
Overall, this was a book that could have been much better. For one that did use essentially the same ideas, but in a way that actually, you know, made sense, try Lock In by John Scalzi.
andrewisreading's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting premise and world building. Feels like it falls a bit flat at the end.