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totallyglitched's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Drug use, Violence, Sexual content, Torture, Gun violence, Medical content, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, and Gore
Moderate: Vomit and Suicidal thoughts
missdragon's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Gosh this was a really interesting, honestly great read and I'm not sure where to begin. This book is considered to be what created cyberpunk as a genre but also was the origin of a bunch of other things I didn't know about - the concept of cyberspace before the internet, the matrix as a concept and the Japanese/science fiction aesthetic you see a lot, especially in the blade runner movie. Think fast paced, heist, Nior type of thing. With the standard cast of characters you'd expect - they don't really develop much past their archetypes.
I loved how the book didn't hold your hand throughout it felt like being thrown into a world at a very quick pace, and you were expected to keep up, especially when it comes to understanding the world, and It's something I really value in science fiction books - there is no exposition you have to work things out, most things really, based on context. This was one of the things I really liked about Do Androids as well.
The dialogue was excellent, and I loved how it was integrated into the action and text of the book. The writing itself flowed really well, it was very entertaining and thought provoking. I liked how the story effortlessly moved between real life stable things, and the dream-like sequences of being in the cyberspace area.
This was very close to being a five star read for me, very very close, but I've opted for 4.75 stars for two reasons, firstly The main character has casual sex with two of the main women in the story and it's written quite badly. and secondly, sometimes information, in the form of random new science fiction words, were casually inserted into the rather fast moving text, with zero explanation as to what they were or what they looked like. As a reader this made it a hard to visualise some of the scenes, and I also don't know how accurate what I'm imagining is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Rape, Addiction, Blood, Gun violence, Death, Drug abuse, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and War
jimgerdes's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Neuromancer is a famous and influential novel.
That means it exists not just as a work of its own, but also as the cultural gravitational well its existence creates. This requires looking at this kind of story through a broader perspective, instead of as a work alone in a vacuum. How it has shaped science fiction, and our society more broadly are fascinating questions worth exploring, and indeed we cannot (and should not) avoid contending with a novel like this.
Even if you have only just heard of Neuromancer or have only a passing knowledge of what it is, because of the profound impact it has had on our society and culture (especially American culture) the concepts, tropes, and themes that have since grown to be called "cyberpunk" will be striking in their familiarity. Both literary, and socially, this novel has shaped the way our society view science fiction and technology, and much has been said about this fact in countless other places. As a result, any contemporary reflection cannot separate it from everything that has come after it.
This is probably obvious and is the case for any influential work of literature, but I think it is worth highlighting particularly for a novel like this to contextualize what exactly this book is and how best (or better yet, why) to approach it 40+ years after it was written.
As a casual read in 2024, this book appears on its surface, to not be anything particular to write home about. The book moves extremely quickly, and expects the reader to keep up. Not surprising for an adventure story with a lot of action, but this could be intimidating for some readers. Scenes happen quickly over a short amount of text, suddenly end, and then skip forward expecting the reader to infer extra details. The opening 2 acts (of 4 total) meander a bit, but the book picks up in the second half. Lots of invented slang and lingo is used, without much explanation. "Do try to keep up." Gibson seems to ask the reader.
The characters are fairly stock. We learn a bit about them as the story goes on, but none of them are particularly dynamic and what we do learn is mostly pragmatic exposition about motivation and personal relation to the plot.
Gibson's work shines particularly however with regards to the world he has created in Neuromancer and how that world communicates the novel's themes and provide the sorts of thought provoking quandaries the best science fiction gives us. This mostly happens in the background, (perhaps as it should) but permeates throughout everything, even the assumptions the characters make about their own lives and the world they live in.
The characters seem mostly focused on the task at hand and their personal motivations rather than the larger questions being posed to the reader, but the world they inhabit and the situations they are forced to deal with reveal a lot about the anxieties of the world of 1984 (a world on the cusp of a technological revolution) and what the future might look like.
What may be most interesting, is how little those anxieties have changed over the past 40 years. In today's media landscape, the "Cyberpunk" tropes and aesthetics are still very much alive (notably Cyberpunk 2077 and its assorted related media has launched this type of story back into mainstream discussion). They endure and press on the same fears and worries, and the same hopes that Gibson's work touches on in 1984. In our rapidly corporatizing technological world, particularly with regards to the rise of artificial intelligence, we can see ourselves in Neuromancer, with all the comforts and horrors that come with that vision.
This is perhaps a useful lens to approach this book with. If you are after a science fiction adventure (or "cyberpunk" flavor specifically), this book is that; unfortunately, though, looking back after 40 years at Neuromancer, it is difficult to point to over any of the other books, movies, television, video games, or tabletop roleplaying games it inspired. But looking at this book as a window into a past version of ourselves, an influence on the world we live in today and how connected we are, or as a way to understand how science fiction as a genre has branched and evolved, there is quite a bit to discover in Neuromancer.
That means it exists not just as a work of its own, but also as the cultural gravitational well its existence creates. This requires looking at this kind of story through a broader perspective, instead of as a work alone in a vacuum. How it has shaped science fiction, and our society more broadly are fascinating questions worth exploring, and indeed we cannot (and should not) avoid contending with a novel like this.
Even if you have only just heard of Neuromancer or have only a passing knowledge of what it is, because of the profound impact it has had on our society and culture (especially American culture) the concepts, tropes, and themes that have since grown to be called "cyberpunk" will be striking in their familiarity. Both literary, and socially, this novel has shaped the way our society view science fiction and technology, and much has been said about this fact in countless other places. As a result, any contemporary reflection cannot separate it from everything that has come after it.
This is probably obvious and is the case for any influential work of literature, but I think it is worth highlighting particularly for a novel like this to contextualize what exactly this book is and how best (or better yet, why) to approach it 40+ years after it was written.
As a casual read in 2024, this book appears on its surface, to not be anything particular to write home about. The book moves extremely quickly, and expects the reader to keep up. Not surprising for an adventure story with a lot of action, but this could be intimidating for some readers. Scenes happen quickly over a short amount of text, suddenly end, and then skip forward expecting the reader to infer extra details. The opening 2 acts (of 4 total) meander a bit, but the book picks up in the second half. Lots of invented slang and lingo is used, without much explanation. "Do try to keep up." Gibson seems to ask the reader.
The characters are fairly stock. We learn a bit about them as the story goes on, but none of them are particularly dynamic and what we do learn is mostly pragmatic exposition about motivation and personal relation to the plot.
Gibson's work shines particularly however with regards to the world he has created in Neuromancer and how that world communicates the novel's themes and provide the sorts of thought provoking quandaries the best science fiction gives us. This mostly happens in the background, (perhaps as it should) but permeates throughout everything, even the assumptions the characters make about their own lives and the world they live in.
The characters seem mostly focused on the task at hand and their personal motivations rather than the larger questions being posed to the reader, but the world they inhabit and the situations they are forced to deal with reveal a lot about the anxieties of the world of 1984 (a world on the cusp of a technological revolution) and what the future might look like.
What may be most interesting, is how little those anxieties have changed over the past 40 years. In today's media landscape, the "Cyberpunk" tropes and aesthetics are still very much alive (notably Cyberpunk 2077 and its assorted related media has launched this type of story back into mainstream discussion). They endure and press on the same fears and worries, and the same hopes that Gibson's work touches on in 1984. In our rapidly corporatizing technological world, particularly with regards to the rise of artificial intelligence, we can see ourselves in Neuromancer, with all the comforts and horrors that come with that vision.
This is perhaps a useful lens to approach this book with. If you are after a science fiction adventure (or "cyberpunk" flavor specifically), this book is that; unfortunately, though, looking back after 40 years at Neuromancer, it is difficult to point to over any of the other books, movies, television, video games, or tabletop roleplaying games it inspired. But looking at this book as a window into a past version of ourselves, an influence on the world we live in today and how connected we are, or as a way to understand how science fiction as a genre has branched and evolved, there is quite a bit to discover in Neuromancer.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Drug use, Police brutality, Gun violence, Addiction, Classism, Cursing, and Drug abuse
Minor: Sexism, Suicide, and Sexual content
missmansanas's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Gun violence, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Blood, Addiction, Sexual assault, Cursing, Drug abuse, and Medical trauma
Minor: Incest and Suicidal thoughts
cdc95's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content, Violence, Medical trauma, Gun violence, and Drug use
Minor: Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual content
lindseylosers's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Chronic illness, Addiction, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Grief, Violence, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Murder, Drug use, and Cursing
byorgey's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual content, and Drug use
sarah984's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is definitely a foundational work in the genre and the descriptions are lush and amazing. I love reading older sci-fi for the kind of grimy analog futurism and no one does that like Gibson. However, the main character is kind of pathetic and weird, the women feel like props, and the characters of colour are embarrassing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Sexual content, Addiction, Body horror, Gun violence, Violence, War, Murder, Alcohol, Death, Drug abuse, Medical content, and Misogyny
Minor: Ableism, Incest, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, and Rape
themysteriouserk's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.25
Gibson’s most famous novel isn’t his best; the tropes and stereotypes employed here range from old hat to offensive, and on the whole it feels more like a collection of stories artificially fitted together than a proper novel. Still, there’s a lot to love too, from the static sky and the setup for the rest of the Sprawl world to the memorable concepts and characters. A good read for Gibson fans and people really interested in the subject matter, but it doesn’t hold up as well or even really try to do as much as some of his newer novels (especially the Blue Ant trilogy), and feels dated both in its technological references and its lack of understanding about race and culture.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Blood, Body horror, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Religious bigotry, Violence, and Xenophobia
du5t8unny's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Sexual content, and Violence