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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
A book at the roots of the cyberpunk genre. This book offers a super interesting view into what the future of humanity could look like from when it was written in 1984. While some things like a true immersive matrix have yet to happen, others (like the Internet!) have. One thing I'll say is to not be concerned if you can't follow along with every word; Gibson intentionally wrote it this way.
Overall it was super interesting reading about this crazy world Gibson imagined, and in some respects lived. He offers some thought provoking questions, especially towards the end, on concepts dealing with AI and reality.
While entertaining, I struggled at times to be engrossed in the world, which I feel like is because of the unique writing style Gibson took. Likewise, while I enjoyed the characters, I didn't feel particularly attached to them.
Overall it was super interesting reading about this crazy world Gibson imagined, and in some respects lived. He offers some thought provoking questions, especially towards the end, on concepts dealing with AI and reality.
While entertaining, I struggled at times to be engrossed in the world, which I feel like is because of the unique writing style Gibson took. Likewise, while I enjoyed the characters, I didn't feel particularly attached to them.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
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:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
very interesting i loved the setting and vibes and i am very excited to analyze for my english class but there was so many made up technology words that made this confusing to read. genuinely have no idea what anything or anyone looks like
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Science fiction is so cool. I love when authors look ahead and nail certain things, see the writing on the wall before anyone else. I was fooled by a very modern cover on this book and assumed it was a rather recent work. Imagine my surprise to learn it was written a year before I was born. I'm shocked I didn't learn of this book sooner, never in school, never in pop culture, which is wild considering how transcedent it is. The book coined the term "cyberspace" and developed a "cyberspace" where millions of people are linked every day through the internet/matrix. Amazing stuff. The book is a wild ride, action-packed from start to finish. It's a little hard to follow in some places, who is working for whom, who is real, who is AI, who the bad guys really are. I ended up just letting go and letting the story take me, and found myself unable to stop flipping pages. Not a book I'll forget any time soon.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
While reading through the book, it is clear how this book influenced an entire sub-genre of science fiction (similar to what [b:Foundation|29579|Foundation (Foundation, #1)|Isaac Asimov|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1417900846l/29579._SX50_.jpg|1783981] or [b:The War of the Worlds|8909|The War of the Worlds|H.G. Wells|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320391644l/8909._SY75_.jpg|3194841] have done).
There is a lot to process throughout the book, notably trying to decipher a world the author sometimes doesn't explain clearly. (I did find myself asking ChatGPT for summaries of read chapters to make sure that I understood correctly what I'd read or to find definitions of certain fictional terms...).
A second reading would help me better appreciate the core story, as I could focus more on the narrative without getting distracted by visualising the environment.
Overall, this is a must-read for any science fiction lover, as it is a journey into a world that influenced many modern adaptation.
There is a lot to process throughout the book, notably trying to decipher a world the author sometimes doesn't explain clearly. (I did find myself asking ChatGPT for summaries of read chapters to make sure that I understood correctly what I'd read or to find definitions of certain fictional terms...).
A second reading would help me better appreciate the core story, as I could focus more on the narrative without getting distracted by visualising the environment.
Overall, this is a must-read for any science fiction lover, as it is a journey into a world that influenced many modern adaptation.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes