Virtual Light

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Summary: stands the test of time.
Review: William Gibson has passed the test of time again and again. I still hear people talk about the "sprawl" books like they were just written a month ago. Neuromancer was written in '82 and was released in '84, to me that says "pass" on the test of time scale. This book, Virtual Light, is not up to caliber of the 'sprawl' series nor Gibson's short stories for that matter, but it's definatly worth a read.>enjoy-sb

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Summary: Virtual Light: Did you say cyberjunk?
Review: You William Gibson fans have got to be kidding. I slogged through 60 pages of ``Virtual Light,'' then rang up the white flag. It wasn't as bad as Anne Rice's ``Violin'' (I got only 50 pages on that one), but it was close. There's a reason why much science fiction is dismissed as little more than weak plots and lousy writing, and ``Virtual Light'' is a case in point. The characters are cartoonish, the writing mediocre and unsubtle (Aaron Pursley -- gee, uh, is that Elvis? Duh.), and the plot about as interesting as a George Bush speech. In closing, let me say that I'm not an anti-sci-fi snob. I loved ``Star Trek: The Next Generation,'' and ``Voyager,'' though not nearly as good, is still pretty entertaining. But there's something to be said for craftsmanship and intelligence, be it in science fiction or any other creative endeavor. Ernie Torres.

Rating:
Summary: Top Notch
Review: This is my favorite William Gibson title. Gibson displays a keen sense of humor in many small, wonderful ways. Considering this was published in 1993, and probably germinated and was written between 1988-92, you have to sharply admire such detail as a TV show called "Cops In Trouble". And this was before Rodney King, the L.A. Riots, the O.J. Simpson case, and the Haitian beating victim in New York City just last week. Science Fiction as a High Art. The Best

Rating:
Summary: Dark, Stunning, A Real Page-Turner!
Review: Brilliant. Gibson at his gritty best. The action is fast-paced, the characters believable, and the backdrop real enough to be scary. A truly in-your-face adrenaline rush of a read. I heartily recommend this book to suspense, fiction, and science fiction fans alike

Rating:
Summary: Splendid
Review: I recommend it warmly, especially to those familiar with San Francisco. Once again, Gibson brings literary fiction up to date, anticipating the issues that the post-industrial society is only beginnning to identify, much less address

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Summary: "...presents itself as a crash-priority override."
Review: Gibson's "sprawl" trilogy founded several new youth subcultures. It captivated it's audience with a dizzying mixture of dark, complex and fantastic elements in a distant future. His newer works are set in a realer, nearer future. The characters are readily identifiable, so that you feel like you've read about them before. They are tough and vulnerable in all the right places. The story swims through a realistic universe, diving and turning at it's own will. The writing style revives my favourite elements of his past works, including the shifting from one character's point of view to another. If the movie of "Johnny Mnemonic" hadn't been such a poor representation of the short story, I would recommend that this book enjoy similar Hollywood attention. I've read this book twelve times, twice of which were still in the book store. (I still don't own a copy!) I doubt any newcomer to Gibson's universe could be displeased by what they find lurking in the pages of Virtual Light, and I know that no fan of his previous works could. Read it. Re-read it. Even purchase a copy if need be

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Summary: Gibson shoves us into a near future so close it's chilling.
Review: Unlike many of his works, Virtual Light is a simple notch ahead on the timeline. Russian cops in Frisco. A simple act by a bike courier triggers the wrath of international business and their hirelings. Next year's quake turns the bay bridge into a squatter's paradise, with dripping rain and power spikes. It could happen soon and the pace never stops in this thriller where technology is not the star, just stuff all around us as we try to survive. I read it and lost sleep one night. Curious thing, though, often I see parts of Virtual Light in clips on the web, and the news. It douses the 19th century Doctrine of Progress and takes Futurists down to a gritty reality. A must read for anyone who cares what's over the top of tomorrow

Rating:
Summary: gibson's best
Review: here is gibson getting out of his neuromancer series' rut (everything was a slow downhill after neuromancer). wholly different, its more like fiction written in the future than like fiction written about the future. he doesn't stop to explain every little new piece of technology nor does he condescend to make every new thing some political statement about the present. his most engrossing book yet.

Rating:
Summary: Gibson as a suspense writer.
Review: Virtual Light is not in the same hardcore cyberpunk category of Neuromancer. It is much more a suspense/action thriller set in a fragmented California of the 21st century. Gibson creates 21st century jargon and pulls you into the future in just a few pages. I found the book as fascinating as I found it entertaining.

Rating:
Summary: value it only virtually
Review: Well, for those of you who are new on Gibson, be warned, that this is not the book you should start with. Why? If you start with this you'll probably be dissapointed and you'll refuse to read the Neuromancer which would be mistake. What we have here is imaginary world without imagination, characters are not likeable and you'll forget about them on the first day upon completing the final chapter. Cheap moralty and chases from B-rated movies makes this book a lousy trash SF, no matter what anybody else could say 'bout it. Chapters are written in different manner, varying in lenght and breaking the pace of the story more than is necessary. Storyline is rather uninventive without the satisfactory end, or to say with end that is no end at all. Various appearances of countless different and not so interesting characters keeps you occupied with tracking which is irelevant instead keepin' you on your seat wondering what'll happen next. Skip this one and you won't regret it.