Rating:  Summary: This is IT Review: So much has been said about this, so I'll be brief. Whether or not this is the ORIGINAL book of the genre, which is only something debatable on vague rumors of short stories published in university papers and other such weak claims, doesn't really matter...because this is the definitive work of CP. The Matrix. Terminator. Etc. Most everything after Neuromancer and some other Gibson works borrowed generously from them. I would recommend this book whether you like CP or not...if you're already a CP fan, you've either read this, or you really can't say you know much about the genre. If you haven't, read it...even if you've read other cyberpunk books and didn't like them....this is the rare book that tarnscends it's category.
Rating:  Summary: Undoubtedly influencial, but annoying to read Review: When a book introduces a new sub-genre, it obviously has ideas that are new, fresh, and exciting. However, on hindsight, Neuromancer is flawed in many ways. Clearly the whole cyberpunk genre arose from this book (just look at modern dystopic movies and computer games that borrow liberally from Gibson's language and plot points). For this reason, I would recommend the book. In addition, the story is actually quite good. Although I normally don't like or believe in futures this pessimistic, Gibson gave his world a kind of logic that allows belief.Unfortunately, he then destroys the credibility at key points in the narrative. It is deeply irritating to me when an author sets up a self-consistent, logical (even scientific) world, and then decides (s)he likes an image or idea so much that it must be included, even if physically/scientifically impossible (Samuel Delany is the worst transgressor of this offense). I found myself rereading a number of passages in disbelief before concluding that yes, Gibson was indeed defying one law of physics while rigorously adhering to others at the same time. In addition, Gibson kept introducing new concepts and words invented from thin air, when there are perfectly acceptable words in use today. Okay, so he's trying to invent a new slang, but nowhere are the new words defined. You learn them from context, but the context may be several chapters away. Gibson's narrative laziness crops up in his use of pronouns as well - there are passages that are simply incomprehensible because the author refers to all the characters (even those fighting each other) by pronouns. A typical passage would be something like: "She burst into the room just as she was getting up from the table." Is the person bursting into the room and the person getting up from the table the same? And if so, isn't it physically impossible to do both things at the same time? Thus, it was with mounting irritation that I approached the climax to the story. Therefore, while I can recommend this book on an historical basis, or because it has an interesting plot (and the occasional interesting character), I do so with serious reservations due to the infuriatingly lazy writing style.
Rating:  Summary: Overall original and interesting Review: If there was one thing Neuromancer has a claim for, it's influencing a ton of other media that's been produced since it was written. I imagine movies like The Matrix as well as a vast portion of anime would not be in existence if it weren't for this book. Overall I thought everything was done well and even though cyberspace is a lot closer to reality than it was when Gibson wrote this book, the originality of his ideas still shine through. So far so good, there are a couple slight problems though. About two thirds of the way into the book I was in love with it and couldn't put it down. There was a lot of mystery/underworld/cloak and dagger-type stuff intertwined up until that point and I was very entrenched in the plot. However when it's crunch time toward the end of the book it shifts to more action-oriented sequences to further and eventually end the plotline. This may not bother most people but for me I was getting used to how the plot was developing and this change somewhat turned me off. However at the end I can't argue that I was thoroughly impressed and fulfilled. Gibson describes the coolest world you'll ever read about and if you're a sci-fi/cyberpunk fan already you'll see some familiarities of Neuromancer's locales that remind you of other worlds you've encountered in sci-fi or anime. That's because it was all done here first and it shows with style. That is the main reason you should give this book a shot. The flow of the plot is hard to pinpoint at times but in the end it's worth it given all I've cited above.
Rating:  Summary: First and Still the Best! Review: Yeah, I know, Gibson, the Godfather of Cyberpunk, blah, blah, blah... Yup, the genre isn't stylish anymore. (Kind of ironic for a book that's so dependent on style for its mood.) So what? It's still _the_ killer of the genre. Intense characters, a completely believable near-future alternate reality and a staccato delivery that just can't be beat. Love Lara Croft? Wait til you meet Molly! Stop wasting time and order the book.
Rating:  Summary: Futuristic Review: It's a good book, but can get a bit boring if you are not highly into Sci-Fi..... Like a futuristic crime city....bizzare, odd.... but good....
Rating:  Summary: Quite the Trip Review: Neuromancer is known mainly because of its influence, and while creating an entirely new genre is nothing to scoff at, there's so much more to this book. William Gibson uses his unique universe to touch upon everything from religion, business, technology, and sex in his amzingly efficient laconic style. Everything in this book is streamlined. In fact if he had wanted to Gibson could easily have made this book at least five-hundred pages if not more. This not only has the effect of moving the story along at an incredible pace, but adds a lot of "replay value". I've read the book twice and I've picked up many more ideas the second time around, and I still plan on reading it again. Perhaps the most intriguing thing about this book are the gnostic ideals inherent in Gibson's subjects. It adds an intriguing dimension to his world. Some readers may have difficulty with the bizarre nature of Gibson's writing style and world. Perhaps the best review I've seen of this book simply states: "If you like to expand your mind with..., then read this book". They gave it one star.
Rating:  Summary: Among the best SF I've ever read... Review: What the hell is wrong with people from Winfield KS?
Rating:  Summary: Best Ever Review: This is by far the best novel I've ever read. The characters seem the only purposeful motion in a neon-lit gray world built on the rubble of the past, where everyone else seems caught up in the incessant electric chatter, never to wake to their own lives. It is a pervasively melancholy world Gibson establishes, with the shining exceptions of reluctant anti-heroes. This is the beginning of a world used in the Count Zero/Mona Lisa Overdrive series, and it seems to be much the same universe as Burning Chrome and Virtual Light, Idoru, and his newest explore. Language, culture, and future are Gibson's toys. Let him play.
Rating:  Summary: I like it Review: I like it, even if all the characters are vile. They are, at least three dimensional. It uses Mark Twain's patented technique of getting rid of uninteresting characters by having them fall in a well looking at fireworks on the fourth of July ;-) A good plot comes out in spite of that.
Rating:  Summary: Sheer magic Review: Gibson is gifted in the way most other sci-fi writers aren't. He has a habit of coming up with plots and ideas which then come true. Almost everyone else has the Star Trek mentality whereby all the aliens are actually humans - but with funny noses and bad teeth. Neuromancer is best for its dark dub-reggae atmosphere. The plot is a bit wayward, but then when you have such new writing and such depth of imagination you smply don't care. Gibson set off the whole cyber-world genre with this novel. Anyone interested in the internet and its futuristic poossibilities should look no farther than neuromancer. Brilliant.
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