Saturday, March 05, 2005
Neuromancer (remembering tomorrow)
Disclaimer: I cant write book discriptions for shit....sorry I hope this is helpful
I have to admit that I began this book with terribly high expectations. It was the scifi book of the 80's and it is almost impossible to overemphisise neuromancer's impact on scifi written after (as I said on the link---the matrix would not have been made if there was not this book to rip off from). Before reading Neurmancer I had read Virtual Light (will review later), also by William Gibson, before reading Neuromancer and Neuromancer was mentioned in every review I read of Virtual Light. SOOOO short story long I was looking forward to reading this book. Of course, it doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out that my expectations far overshadowed my actual experience of the book. To tell the truth there were several times I just wanted to stop reading the book and go to something else, but I felt I should read it so I kept at it.
I think if I had read it without knowing the hoopla surounding the book I would have enjoyed it a bit more....who knows.
My biggest problem with the book is that it is writen under the assumption that the reader is incredably knowlegable about the workings of the fictional world. From the first paragraph you are thrown into it---there is relatively little exposistion. Which really would be okay but it is extreamly technical. Also the descriptions of the technical wizadry of this fictional near future while complex where also a bit on the sparse side so the book constantly left me with a "whaaaa...?" feeling.
What I did like about this book and what made the time spent worthwhile:
The characters are badasses.
I dug the seedy vibe.
The Rastafarian Space station was a nice touch.
Reviews
I have to admit that I began this book with terribly high expectations. It was the scifi book of the 80's and it is almost impossible to overemphisise neuromancer's impact on scifi written after (as I said on the link---the matrix would not have been made if there was not this book to rip off from). Before reading Neurmancer I had read Virtual Light (will review later), also by William Gibson, before reading Neuromancer and Neuromancer was mentioned in every review I read of Virtual Light. SOOOO short story long I was looking forward to reading this book. Of course, it doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out that my expectations far overshadowed my actual experience of the book. To tell the truth there were several times I just wanted to stop reading the book and go to something else, but I felt I should read it so I kept at it.
I think if I had read it without knowing the hoopla surounding the book I would have enjoyed it a bit more....who knows.
My biggest problem with the book is that it is writen under the assumption that the reader is incredably knowlegable about the workings of the fictional world. From the first paragraph you are thrown into it---there is relatively little exposistion. Which really would be okay but it is extreamly technical. Also the descriptions of the technical wizadry of this fictional near future while complex where also a bit on the sparse side so the book constantly left me with a "whaaaa...?" feeling.
What I did like about this book and what made the time spent worthwhile:
The characters are badasses.
I dug the seedy vibe.
The Rastafarian Space station was a nice touch.
Reviews
# posted by Tom Smith @ 10:28 AM 
