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shyshy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-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
3.5
This is the most I’ve ever been confused in a book. As a cyberpunk fan I thought getting into this book would be entertaining. The book gets you at some points and on others your totally confused. Anyway I can appreciate what this book has done for the genre, I’d just wait for the show to come out to enjoy this story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Death, and Drug use
traciereads's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Sexual content
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
quiteawful's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The og Cyberpunk 2077 inspo. Hard to read, hard to imagine a lot of it, not really sure I liked any of the characters. Lots of crimes and violence. I recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Physical abuse, and Addiction
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Murder
Minor: Mental illness and Suicide
The og Cyberpunk 2077 inspo. Hard to read, hard to imagine a lot of it, not really sure I liked any of the characters. Lots of crimes and violence. I recommend.jessthanthree's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment
Moderate: Violence, Murder, Sexual assault, and Mental illness
Minor: Excrement, Child death, and War
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
minzzi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This book was ok. The writing is just the way I like it, kinda poetic/metaphorical and not a lot of exposition. I also liked that, even though It's a book about computers and hackers, the narrative was more fantastical than hardcore sci-fi and the plot is very easy to follow.
The characters, on the other hand... The main cast is fine (I am biased towards asshole protagonists after all) and so is Wintermute, but some of the side characters felt like just huge racial steriotypes to me and I couldn't concentrate in some parts because of how bad it was.
This book also falls into that old tale of "female character suffers sexual related trauma, but it's ok because she is a badass warrior" and I hate that so much.
The characters, on the other hand... The main cast is fine (I am biased towards asshole protagonists after all) and so is Wintermute, but some of the side characters felt like just huge racial steriotypes to me and I couldn't concentrate in some parts because of how bad it was.
This book also falls into that old tale of "female character suffers sexual related trauma, but it's ok because she is a badass warrior" and I hate that so much.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Sexual violence, Murder, Sexual content, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Violence
shinylightblue's review
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Moderate: Body horror, Drug abuse, Racism, Sexual content, and Suicide
Minor: Vomit
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
peachani's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Death, Medical content, Murder, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Mental illness, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Body horror, Drug abuse, Drug use, Incest, and Suicide attempt
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