Idoru

Rating:
Summary: Idoru: a new beginning?
Review: In all Gibson has done a better job accommodating his readers that are used to the fast pace of books like Neuromancer and Count Zero than he did with Virtual Light

Idoru is the second book in the series that includes Virtual Light and All Tomorrows' Parties. Although in saying that it's not quite a sequel to Virtual light but rather another beginning for the series. The characters and situations from Virtual light are only mentioned in passing. Think of Virtual Light as the prototype for Gibson's new 'neo modern' technology and Idoru the production model. Idoru contains more references to technology and its cultural effect. The future he envisions is close to ours but still far from the Neuromancer future. Within Idoru you see more of the origins of the advanced Internet that will later become the MATRIX in Neuromancer. Idoru is a wonderful mix of neo Japanese and pop culture sprinkled with visions of what could be.

Idoru revolves around the relationship between a Rock star and a virtual woman (Idoru) Gibson writes about two separate investigations into the relationship, one handled by Chia McKenzie a 14-year-old fan of the rock star. Her story is full of idiosyncrasies of fan culture and all things Japanese. The other conducted by Colin Laney a slightly unstable Data analyst with an unusual gift discerning patterns (nodal points) from large amounts of data. Both Laney's and Chia's tales bring light onto the particulars of the technology that Gibson envisions will be available.

If you're new to Gibson start with 'Virtual Light' then read the others in the series. Now brace yourself and take the leap to 'Neuromancer' and its series of books.

On the other hand if you've already read 'Neuromancer' or its sequels then read Idoru before Virtual Light and try to put aside the lack of technology and just enjoy the story

Rating:
Summary: Good, but not masterful
Review: This was the first Gibson book I've ever read, and I have to say I was a bit disapointed. I still really enjoyed the book, but I expected it to blow me away. The book seemed a little bit too steeped in pop-culture. Too much focus on the "scene" of the future, and not enough focus on the technology behind it. But, you dont have to take my word for it...

Rating:
Summary: The master of cyberpunk presents a shining diamond again
Review: Some people may or may not like Idoru, just because there is not enough "cowboy" concept in it. However, Idoru has its own concept of reality.

In Neuromancer, Gibson questioned the reality of being alive, the reality of the self. In Idoru he questions reality of Love. Can a human fall in love with an AI? In the novel, a rock star falls in love with a Japanese AI and comes to Japan to marry her.

Meanwhile, some fans wonder about this and one of them decides to go to Japan to investigate. Accidentally she bumps into the wrong person, wrong place-wrong time. And as the unravelling continues, the both tracks spiral and at the end they meet.

This is definitely not much action packed, but is still very fast-paced. Go on and pick it up.

Rating:
Summary: Gibson's crystal ball is unflawed
Review: William Gibson remains the best example of why "speculative fiction" should replace "science fiction"
for the generic term "SF". His temporal reach carries today's people into logical extensions of
society into a world where the growth of today's technology is likely to confront them. Idoru
is a superior example of Gibson's talent in making the projections he's rightly noted for. Like
all his best work, technology here is present, but it's the characters, their outlook and dealing
with events, that chains the reader's attention. Don't expect dashing heroes, attendant ladies,
stygian villains performing in ways to divert you from reality. Gibson brings tomorrow's
realities to his pages, realities you may be facing in your lifetime.

The pivotal element is the desire of a rock star to marry a hologram. Idoru is an electronic
construct, the symbol of universal desires. She, too, is an entertainer, a "synthespian" in future
Hollywood jargon. The term is pure Gibson, projecting today's fascination with special effects
and animation supplemented films. Colin Laney, who bears special analysis skills has been
hired to search the data streams to determine the reasons for this unusual liaison. It's a
daunting task, and Gibson provides us many glimpses of our future while guiding Laney
through the corporate entertainment world.

Laney also carries a dark secret, the suicide of a woman whose data he was tracking. She had
perceived his observing her and he's concerned about who else might be detecting his surveys
of information. His talent had always enjoyed anonymity. If Alison Shires could detect his
intrusion, who else more powerful might also be watching? The idoru, whose visible
projection Laney assesses as the "tip of the iceberg of an Antarctica of information" evokes
fears of what powers may lie behind the projected image.

Most of the story takes place in New Tokyo, a rebuild of the city destroyed by the Great
'Quake which, have no doubt, is certain to come. Here, Gibson engages in subtle forecasts of
how today's technologies will unfold in many ways over the next few decades.
Buildings will result from enhanced forms of biotechnology enabling them to "grow" instead
of being constructed. Even something as mundane as sewage treatement receives his
attention in taking his characters through their world. Your world, tomorrow. Take note of
how Gibson forecasts it as the story unfolds. Any one of you might be tomorrow's Laney, Chia
or even a model for the Idoru. It bears thinking about, but only if you read Gibson's
captivating prose on what the future might hold for us all.

Rating:
Summary: a great introduction to gibson
Review: i don't know what all these people are talking about when they say idoru is for hardcore gibson fans only. it's the first gibson, and the first of the genre, i ever read, and i loved it. in terms of character development, and plot structure its excellent. maybe it doesn't have as many mindless action sequences as neuromancer, but its more well-constructed. its about something much larger than new ideas in technology, its about how people cope emotionally and psychologically with technology moving at a much faster pace than their psyches can keep up with. if you're even slightly curious about gibson, this is the place to start.

Rating:
Summary: not so good as I had hoped
Review: There's no doubt that Gibson can flat-out write. His line-by-line writing is powerful, clear, and compelling. He knows when to start a scene, and when to drop it to move to another. His characters are interesting. And he draws powerful pictures of a dystopian future of corporate control of the world, people more interested in virtual reality than the increasingly-devastated world that surrounds them, and a deep alienation and sorrow. BUT, and this is a huge but, his plots always seem flat to me. This has been true of the other books of his I've read, and it's certainly true of this one. There never seems enough at stake for the main characters, emotionally, philosophically, or physically. His words suck me in, and his plots spit me back out. This one was okay, but nothing to write home about.

Rating:
Summary: Not a satisfying read
Review: If you read the summary on the first page, then you have read all that you need to know about "Idoru." Some, if not all of the quotes by major publications praising this novel made me wonder if I was reading the right book. Anyway, "Idoru" focuses on the characters, hired "netrunner" Colin Laney and teenager Chia McKenzie and their association with the mysterious Rei Toei, who, if I may add, doesn't appear until later in this yarn.This is the first book I read by Gibson, whom I heard is one of the great writers of science fiction. This, however, is not his best work. The premise is alright, but we (the reader) are introduced to too many characters. I had a difficult time figuring out who was who. Plus, this 383 page book could have been reduced to half its length. Idoru is for die-hard Gibson fans.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting, but rather flat
Review: If you are a Gibson fan this is worth a read. There are some interesting concepts and charactures. However, if you haven't read gibson before, pick up his first 3 novels and his short story collection before you tackle these. The story "Virtual Light" precedes this one, but really isn't necessary to enjoy the story.

Rating:
Summary: I like your computer...
Review: This book could have been as good as Neuromancer. The strengths of this book are: the concept of Rei Toei, the concept of limited fame, Blackwell, The Walled City and Arleigh McCrae. The weaknesses of this book are: Chia's smuggling coincedence (dumb), not enough Rei Toei, and nanotech. Do not get me wrong I liked this book but it could have been so much more. Chia being a big Lo/Rez fan and meeting MaryAlice on the plane and smuggling the nanotech device is too much. The nanotech concept is never fully developed on why the buildings seem to grow with people living in them and how the island in Tokyo Bay was going to work. Rei Toei is hyped by having the book named after her and the plot revolves around her but she is never fleshed out. Gibson seems to be taking on too many characters and concepts. I hope he narrows his scope in later books and has more detail on his vision.

Rating:
Summary: Best Gibson Book?
Review: This is a book about the future by someone who has obviously been there. It is news that stays news: even though it is now a few years old, it feels brand new. Gibson's thing is not telling us what gizmos the future will hold; his thing is telling us how we will relate to them. Meanwhile, he tells a gripping story of stuggle, sacrifice, victory, loyalty, betrayal, and loss. With plenty of action. I'd give up two internal organs to have written this.