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elctrc's review against another edition
3.0
I was going to skip this one after hearing what most had to say about it. I loved his last (the first in this series), but this one starts off rough -- it felt juvenile and wonky. But I pushed through the first 50, and was soon pulled in just like with all of his work. Disappointed as usual with the ending, but all in all a fun read.
pierceinverarity's review against another edition
5.0
I've never been interested in WG's earlier, sci-fi novels (or anything else in the genre). His recent work, however, dwells on the cusp of the present; whatever speculation there might be is minor, and plausible. He's also a great prose stylist.
fifty1phantom's review against another edition
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
r4storytime's review against another edition
1.0
Very boring. Could only get through the first half or so. I really did try to give it a chance. I restarted reading once (after slogging through the first hundred pages). Second time through made it halfway, but I felt so uninterested in the story. I've felt that way for every Gibson book I've read thus far. I'm trying the Difference Engine to give him another shot.
thebookvvitch's review against another edition
3.0
My least favourite from the Blue Ant trilogy – but I think that's possibly because Pattern Recognition and Zero History are exceptionally good. Still a great read!
wannabekingpin's review against another edition
2.0
all reviews in one place:
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skaitom nakties rezimu
About the Book: Former rock star, now journalist, is hired by a nonexistent magazine to investigate an eccentric artist with peculiar virtual reality art. But not really for the art. The artist knows someone who knows something about the mythical shipping container that is being tossed around like a hot potato and whose existence is being covered by someone powerful enough to buy off both law and criminals.
My Opinion: The story follows three protagonists. One of their purpose I didn’t manage to figure. Just a junkie being dragged around by some strange guy claiming to be law. Then there’s the VR art, described in such meticulous detail, and reappearing like an unwanted rag underfoot. Everyone’s going somewhere, doing the opposite of what would be logical, and dining out in restaurants. All while occasionally overthinking some silly little detail. By the end we finally get the grand finale, where plot quickens and rushes past, but it’s a long way to it.
Reading the plot feels like watching a movie with a gauze on your eyes that got some random holes in it. You sort of get it. And occasionally you even prop your head in such a way that you get a glimpse of what’s really going on there. Whether this obscuring was on purpose or not, it felt like a chore. A 2 out of 5 for this one.
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu
About the Book: Former rock star, now journalist, is hired by a nonexistent magazine to investigate an eccentric artist with peculiar virtual reality art. But not really for the art. The artist knows someone who knows something about the mythical shipping container that is being tossed around like a hot potato and whose existence is being covered by someone powerful enough to buy off both law and criminals.
My Opinion: The story follows three protagonists. One of their purpose I didn’t manage to figure. Just a junkie being dragged around by some strange guy claiming to be law. Then there’s the VR art, described in such meticulous detail, and reappearing like an unwanted rag underfoot. Everyone’s going somewhere, doing the opposite of what would be logical, and dining out in restaurants. All while occasionally overthinking some silly little detail. By the end we finally get the grand finale, where plot quickens and rushes past, but it’s a long way to it.
Reading the plot feels like watching a movie with a gauze on your eyes that got some random holes in it. You sort of get it. And occasionally you even prop your head in such a way that you get a glimpse of what’s really going on there. Whether this obscuring was on purpose or not, it felt like a chore. A 2 out of 5 for this one.
misterjay's review against another edition
4.0
The book was a lot of fun and much easier to follow than some other Gibson books. Perhaps because the technology was less of a focus than in others, where as the characters were more fully realized than in his early books.
Well worth reading.
Well worth reading.
scheu's review
3.0
Gibson brings his trademark style into the real world, where we find that no matter how stylish the prose, the real world is actually pretty mundane 90% of the time.
mehitabels's review against another edition
4.0
1/4/11 - a reread, since my husband got the 2nd book for xmas (so what's his is mine, what's the problem). had completely forgotten the ending, which made for excellent surprise and enjoyment.
lavoiture's review against another edition
I hate this kind of book. I just picked it up at a book exchange because I was desperate. I have absolutely no clue what's going on and I don't understand the jargon. I seriously doubt that I will finish this...