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Summary: The very definition of cyberpunk.
Review: When people talk about "cyberpunk", they're usally refering to one of two things. The first is Blade Runner, and the other is Neuromancer. Read it. Read it twice, because unless you're Albert Einstein or William Gibson, you're going to miss stuff and get confused, especially towards the end. The pace is incredible, but the world is totally believable, and even though the plot isn't the greatest, it's one heck of a ride.
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Summary: Neuromancer
Review: I was disappointed with this book. The book had potential to be very interesting because of the subject matter. However I found that it had poor character development, the plot was rushed and the technology portion seemed to be over-emphasized.
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Summary: Overrated without a doubt
Review: This was my first cyberpunk novel. I am into sci-fi, and have read authors whose work have some similarities (e.g., Philip K. Dick) but nothing quite like this. Indeed, this is a strange book. William Gibson did two things which made this book somewhat worthwhile. First, it reads very quickly. Second, the dialogue is very good. Now for my negative comments. This book is way too convoluted for the general sci-fi reader. Frank Herbert provided a glossary in his DUNE novel. Why Gibson chose not to do the same is beyond me. By not doing so, Gibson effectively alienates a portion of his audience that simply does not comprehened a wide array of techno-jargon. Gibson could have alleviated this problem, on some level, if he were to actually explain some of the concepts in the book itself. Unfortunately he chose not to. Therefore, if you are not a techno junkie, you have been warned. The story itself is a little thin, as is the characterization. There are some interesting developments here and there, but generally nothing to knock your socks off. (I said the book reads fast yet at the same time I said it was confusing. I know that usually doesn't happen, but it did here.)
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Summary: Awesome book
Review: If you ever wanted to know what the Internet is going to become, read this book! I read it for the first time back in 1994 and was amazed at how vivid a picture Gibson paints of the future of technology in human society. What makes it all the more amazing is that almost all of the technology and societal changes that Gibson mentions and describes in his book are becoming reality. The most amazing thing is that Gibson wrote this book in the early 80's! Done in a classic cyberpunk setting, we encounter some of the best images the from the pre-web days of what the future will bring and how the bad guys will operate. It is an incredible story of how people fight to get by and still keep their identity in a world of machines, computers, and under-handed dealings.
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Summary: Superb writing
Review: I chanced upon this book at the bookstore one day and it seemed rather interesting, so I bought it. I found one of the best writers currently out there. Gibson's style is so amazingly precise. The way he writes allows for the rather technical nature of his works to be easily imagined by those not versed in cyberpunk lore. This was the first book of Gibson's that I read, and is still my favorite. Console jockeys (professional hackers) and mercenary girls and computers with artificial intelligence are just some of the characters you run into here. This story is so amazing and many different levels. The story is set up perfectly and reaches a fevered, frenzied pitch at the end that won't let you stop reading until you are finished. An interesting side note is that as you read other works of Gibson, allusions to the happenings in this book abound. I can't recommend this book enough.
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Summary: Created a genre
Review: Actually, that's not entirely true. _True names and otherdangers_ is the first book to have something like the Internet and isa lot more computer literate than Gibson - who wrote Neuromancer on atypewriter. _Shockwave Rider_ has a fair amount of the concepts, andis pretty predictive as well - anyone who survived the 90s is likelyto appreciate the plug-in lifestyle. _Neuromancer_ is hardly thefirst cyberpunk novel. It's just the best. Gibson has beencharacterized as a hack. Fair enough. I personally can't stand hislater work. His short stories are strong, his characters areinteresting enough, and the story lines in later books develop themquite well. Newer novels have expanded the genre more.True. Gibson had one idea, and it spawned a whole school of writing.One that I enjoy. Yes, I'm a foaming, rabid Gibson fan. Have beensince I picked up Neuromancer on fine summer day in the early 80s. Istudied chemistry for a time (and used to do computer simulations ofchemical models), and I remember pawing though an organic chemsitrytext to draw out the structure of a carcinogen. So the jargon didn'tthrow me much. My answering machine greeting was lifted straight fromthe Finn for a time. If you really want to know where cyberpunk camefrom, the strange amalgamation of cultures, computers and biology, youhave to read this book. Then you realize that more than likely, thecyberpunk you're reading is an offshoot. But if you look at thewriting of the period, Gibson did something totally different. Goneis the Golden Age writing, where smart scientists dispense wisdom andeasy, clever solutions. Enough of the apocalyptic writing of the 70s.The world is not perfect, but it's not going to end any time soon.It's just here... Get over it. And read this book.
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Summary: A Mind Drug
Review: Having never really read much Sci-Fi before, this was a totally new experience! The characterisation and writing style were excellent and the story took my mind on a rollercoaster trip to the furthest reaches of the universe (and my imagination!)What I really appreciated was that as far removed as it was from everyday reality, Gibson kept it real and plausible throughout to such an extent that one feels as if one has experienced a prophetic glimpse of the REAL future. This book has opened up a new door for me and I can't wait for my next trip into cyberland.
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Summary: A Classic
Review: This book is one of my favorite science fiction novels. Gibson's cyberpunk classic is film noir mixed with computers and space stations. The somewhat naive view of computer use in the future was kind of noticeable, but it's a minor qualm. Sure, the characters are ripped from a standard detective story, but that's not the point. The story shows the breakdown of interpersonal relationships, and how morality is affected by technology. The "dark side" of cloning, genetic engineering, cryogenics, and more are showed in this novel. The core of the story, is dark and a bit frightening, and it makes you think about what could happen (maybe already happening) in our world if we let technology run rampant without morality.
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Summary: Excellent Cyberpunk
Review: William Gibson's "Neuromancer" is a beautifully crafted cyberpunk novel. The book is filled with incredibly rich detail while maintaining a gritty, dark attitude. The characters are for the most part static with very few pages dedicated to explaining who they are or why they do what they do, however it contributes to the mysterious tone that keeps the reader from being able to put the book down.
I thoroughly enjoyed "Neuromancer" and would suggest it to any fan of science fiction. I am familiar with the world of cyberpunk, having read a couple of Gibson's other novels and participated in the role playing game, but people unfamiliar with basic terms and concepts (the matrix, ice, etc.) might struggle through some of the more technical aspects of the novel. But it is DEFINITELY a worthwhile undertaking as "Neuromancer" is an incredibly potent cyberpunk novel, chock full of the drugs, violence, and technology that defines this dark genre. Also, I would suggest William Gibson's "Burning Chrome," a collection of short stories including "Johnny Mnemonic" (The short story is exponentially better than the poorly made movie starring Keanu Reeves). Enjoy!
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Summary: A must for any SF-reader
Review: Whether you are familiar with the "Cyberpunk" atmosphere or not, this book will keep you occupied until... well you've just finished it! Willian Gibson definitely defines a new measure for SF, very well furute predictions, a society mixed with technolgy so much that you cannot decide what is natural and what is real? His style makes different paths go around each other like a DNA and his connection in the end can only be the work of a genious.
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