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louisjc's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
lschweitzer's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Rounded Down.
Diving into "The Peripheral" without a show warm-up is like trying to join a party halfway through – confusing, but worth it. Enjoyed the book, trilogy's on the radar, but not stealing the top spot on my reading list.
Diving into "The Peripheral" without a show warm-up is like trying to join a party halfway through – confusing, but worth it. Enjoyed the book, trilogy's on the radar, but not stealing the top spot on my reading list.
dale_in_va's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the plot of this book. I found the plot compelling, and the characters likeable (in general). The world it built was believeable and engaging. The people were multidimensional, the premise worth while.
I listened to this book as an audiobook. So from a listening point of view the writing was unclear and confusing at times. But the promise of an interesting ending was enough to have me stick with it. The details were sometimes difficult to grasp and some characters, outside the main ones took time to sort out. So it took me about twice as long to read this book as it should have if the writing and plot were more clearly laid out.
That said, my listening skills can use a bit of improvement, so the book may actually be more cohesive and well written in the written version.
I listened to this book as an audiobook. So from a listening point of view the writing was unclear and confusing at times. But the promise of an interesting ending was enough to have me stick with it. The details were sometimes difficult to grasp and some characters, outside the main ones took time to sort out. So it took me about twice as long to read this book as it should have if the writing and plot were more clearly laid out.
That said, my listening skills can use a bit of improvement, so the book may actually be more cohesive and well written in the written version.
kellieveltri's review against another edition
3.0
Let’s start with the positives, because that is the easier part of this review to write. The concept of this book is quite interesting, and the message, though definitely leaning into preachy territory, is quite clear and important. I’m generally not a fan of this genre (big tech scares the crap out of me), but I didn’t hate this book.
But. And it’s a big but. I have several fundamental issues with this novel, both formally and narratively.
-It’s confusing. This isn’t solely because of the back-and-forth chapter structure that goes between timelines, because I think that that works for the most part and figuring out what’s going on is part of the fun of reading a book like this. However, we are dropped into a character’s thoughts without being told whose perspective we are watching from, and the jumble of pronouns makes it nearly impossible to tell who we are following early on in the book.
-In the same vein, it takes forever for this book to get going because so much of the beginning is dedicated to just trying to figure out who these characters are, where they are, when they are, and what is going on. It took me about 50 pages to actually start being interested in what came next (and to remember the characters’ names).
-There are some not-insignificant plot holes. There is always going to be some kind of logical issue that comes up when an author comes up with their own system for time travel, and I think that using augmented reality and the peripherals themselves, as well as clearly explaining the split timelines/multiverse theory helps Gibson avoid a lot of the typical pitfalls. That being said, the entire conceit of the book is based on Flynne unknowingly participating in an event in the future by playing a “game” on her phone, but all future attempts by the characters to move between timelines takes complicated technology developed in the future and a precise set of conditions. How this was able to even occur in the first place remains a mystery.
-My most personal and frustrating beef with Gibson comes in the form of his female characters. While I admire him for creating a well-rounded, smart, and capable female protagonist, Gibson’s female characterization in this novel gives off the distinct impression that he has never actually spoken to a woman before. Flynne is a textbook Cool Girl. She eats beef jerky, plays video games,and wears her brother’s sweatshirt with no pants. We get to follow her to the bathroom multiple times as she pees and uses hand sanitizer instead of soap to clean her hands. She obsessed over her boobs (which she is ridiculously conscious of at all times) and is constantly “swiping on some lip gloss” to look prettier for the men around her, because she may be unbrushed and unkempt, but at least her lips are shiny. Again, sir, ask a woman before you just write things.The term “hate kegels” is spoken by another woman in this book more than one time, when the appropriate number of uses is quite obviously zero. There are some very cool and badass female characters in this book, but these aspects rubbed me the wrong way and made me distrustful of them all.
Overall, I’d recommend this book to someone who is already an avid sci-fi fan, but not to the average reader.
But. And it’s a big but. I have several fundamental issues with this novel, both formally and narratively.
-It’s confusing. This isn’t solely because of the back-and-forth chapter structure that goes between timelines, because I think that that works for the most part and figuring out what’s going on is part of the fun of reading a book like this. However, we are dropped into a character’s thoughts without being told whose perspective we are watching from, and the jumble of pronouns makes it nearly impossible to tell who we are following early on in the book.
-In the same vein, it takes forever for this book to get going because so much of the beginning is dedicated to just trying to figure out who these characters are, where they are, when they are, and what is going on. It took me about 50 pages to actually start being interested in what came next (and to remember the characters’ names).
-There are some not-insignificant plot holes. There is always going to be some kind of logical issue that comes up when an author comes up with their own system for time travel, and I think that using augmented reality and the peripherals themselves, as well as clearly explaining the split timelines/multiverse theory helps Gibson avoid a lot of the typical pitfalls. That being said, the entire conceit of the book is based on Flynne unknowingly participating in an event in the future by playing a “game” on her phone, but all future attempts by the characters to move between timelines takes complicated technology developed in the future and a precise set of conditions. How this was able to even occur in the first place remains a mystery.
-My most personal and frustrating beef with Gibson comes in the form of his female characters. While I admire him for creating a well-rounded, smart, and capable female protagonist, Gibson’s female characterization in this novel gives off the distinct impression that he has never actually spoken to a woman before. Flynne is a textbook Cool Girl. She eats beef jerky, plays video games,and wears her brother’s sweatshirt with no pants. We get to follow her to the bathroom multiple times as she pees and uses hand sanitizer instead of soap to clean her hands. She obsessed over her boobs (which she is ridiculously conscious of at all times) and is constantly “swiping on some lip gloss” to look prettier for the men around her, because she may be unbrushed and unkempt, but at least her lips are shiny. Again, sir, ask a woman before you just write things.The term “hate kegels” is spoken by another woman in this book more than one time, when the appropriate number of uses is quite obviously zero. There are some very cool and badass female characters in this book, but these aspects rubbed me the wrong way and made me distrustful of them all.
Overall, I’d recommend this book to someone who is already an avid sci-fi fan, but not to the average reader.
sashazaur's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
librarian_elle's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, Medical trauma, Death, Body horror, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, and Alcohol
huddy91's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
0.25
angelicide's review against another edition
5.0
William Gibson's novels are always difficult in the beginning. The reader is typically thrown into an alien environment with no background or explication and forced to piece together the situation completely from context. This sink or swim introduction can be both frustrating and exciting. In this case, however, I found myself flailing around uncomprehending for much longer than usual. Perhaps it's just me, but I thought more than once, this may be the first William Gibson novel that I'm not going to like.
Eventually, though, I did get it. And when I did, it was absolutely brilliant. The man has a truly innovative mind and it makes for some inspired and profound literature. Now that I understand the world he's created (as well as one can understand a William Gibson world), I'll probably read it again so that I can experience the whole thing from a fresh perspective.
Eventually, though, I did get it. And when I did, it was absolutely brilliant. The man has a truly innovative mind and it makes for some inspired and profound literature. Now that I understand the world he's created (as well as one can understand a William Gibson world), I'll probably read it again so that I can experience the whole thing from a fresh perspective.
bluelilyleest's review against another edition
1.0
Did not enjoy this one at all. Weak characters in weak worlds. Did not identify with them. Felt bored throughout. (Review written in Gibson's annoyingly subjectless-hard to read-sentences style)