Rating: 
Summary: bad
Review: I read a lot, mostly hard core lit, moonlight with cyber, so can lay at least some claim to a wider perspective on literary style and ability. I grant you that the very realm writers like Gibson and Stephenson and Sterling are dealing with lends itself to vague definitions of technology. But in the better works they do manage to do this with depth and insight and wit. I will also grant you that at times there is a thin line between genius and b.s.. With Idoru I believe Mr. Gibson crossed that line. The characters are poorly defined, even for their genre, which at its worst moments loses the precarious balance between hipness and credibility. Both the plot and the technology discussed in Idoru were the most sketchy and un-thought out that I've encountered. I agree with a previous reviewer that it seemed Gibson was working within a space restriction because the denouement was very poorly written. It was yet another repetition of the young courier/fan club member somehow stumbles upon an unknown piece of technology, gets caught up in a struggle between two unknown parties over control of this equipment, and then all is well in the end. Idoru lacks originality, direction, and purpose. I fear Gibson has given in to the temptation to kowtow to a cult of literary sycophants. Save the ink Bill.
Rating: 
Summary: Gibson's back!
Review: After giving the world of science fiction a swift kick in the pants with "Neuromancer," Gibson's novels dropped in quality like a brick into a black hole.But then "Idoru" comes along, redeeming the venerable creator of the cyberpunk subgenre. The characterization is "just enough," the imagery is stunning, and the story is quickly accessible and not at all frustrating as prior novels had been. And it's a clever story, too, with unique ideas. I don't want to give them away, but pick it up. If you remained loyal to Gibson, you'll see some familiar faces along the way, too. And if you've never read a cyberpunk novel before, go ahead and start with "Idoru" ... "Neuromancer" will always be waiting.
Rating:
Summary: Return to Form
Review: After the dissapointing conclusion to the "Sprawl" sequence, the unrealised potential of "The Difference Engine" and the muddle of "Virtual Light", Gibson flexes his literary muscles and polishes off the greatest comeback since Canberra won the 1989 ARL Grand Final. And really, it is all so effortless. The plot is relatively uncomplicated and could probably have been dealt with in short story or novella form. But through this plot, Gibson provides us with beautifully realised interpretation of today's media landscape while at the same time providing an eloquent discourse on the near future. Gibson's use of language is elegant, refined and (dare I say it) mature. His sense of time and place (often Tokyo theme bars and train stations) is unmistakeable and original and his sense of humour infectious. Pop references abound, with allusions to David Bowie, U2, early Ultravox (and Big Black?) amongst others seeded through out the book. This is not Neuromancer. Gibson has moved on and readers looking to return to the past may be disapointed. But for the considered reader, Idoru supplies a raft of clever and calculated writing. Recommended
Rating: 
Summary: A dud from a sci-fi legend
Review: Obviously science fiction depends on the suspension of disbelief, but the events in this book verge on the ridiculous. The story seems haistily put together and the characters are one-dimentional. It reads well, but it provides little of the wonder that Gibson's work usually inspires.
Rating: 
Summary: Miles better than Virtual Light
Review: Not bad, but not Neuromancer. His abilty to depict a disjointed and hard-edged cultural distilation doesn't shine and reverberate like it did in the original books, but he's still a man alone in the genre he reiterated. I am irritated that he doesn't give credit to his musical inspirations: here he lifted one of Rez's quotes from Digital Heroes of Hyphoprisy, and in All Tomorrow's Parties, he is leeching from Sisters of Mercy with his use of "this... corrosion" and "vision thing."
Rating:
Summary: A sleeper of a novel...
Review: ... in the sense that you don't take very much notice of it until suddenly the mental box office starts rolling in the zeroes. Plot? Derivative. Characters? Cardboard. But - the words? Perfect. Every time I pick it up, I remind myself: "This is one of Gibson's lesser novels. Remember not to enjoy it too much." Oh, but I can't. It's not Neuromancer - and I like it like that.
Rating:
Summary: Watered Down Snowcrash
Review: I read this book becuase someone suggested it to me, and I mustsay, I was completely disapointed in it. After reading the brilliant"Snowcrash" by Stephenson, this book seemed watered down, and basically pathetic. The concepts were similar, the basic idea the same, but he does not command the english language with nearly the skill Stephenson does. Admittedly, the fan club Idea, and the way he presented it intrigued me, but not enough to save the book in my eyes.
Rating:
Summary: What was that all about
Review: I am a hardcore Gibson fan, or should I say was. I was really looking forward to Idoru and was let down by the plot. He does get into the cyberpunk dimensions, but the book is almost already outdated. I actually chucked the book after the 1st hundred pages and decided to give it another chance a couple of weeks later. I got into it, however it was all in all sort of a disappointment. Maybe it was because I was expecting so much more. If this would have been written by another author I may have given the book 3 stars, but from Gibson one should expect more. I will continue to read his books in hopes of another great one comming along.
Rating:
Summary: Lots of promise, little punch
Review: Dissapointing, particularly considering Idoru follows a commercial success like Virtual Light. The story is somewhat intriguing, but follows too consistent a pulse to be classified as one of Gibson's better works. Once again he has created a richly textured futureworld, one which he is obviously comfortable writing about. The problem is following through on the book's initial promise. The two main characters, Chia and Laney are very well drawn, and I was fascinated as to how the paths of these two very different people would cross. Unfortunately, they cross (so to speak) very late in the book during a not terribly compelling climax. It's almost as though the author was working within size limitations. After carefully layering the story for 200+ pages, he rushes to pull together the plot threads without doing justice to the story. It feels like an abridged version, particularly the resolution of Laney's problems with Kathy Torrance (thanks to Blackwell). I would almost prefer to read a sequel, since much of the first book seemed dedicated to exposition.
Rating:
Summary: No Neuromancer
Review: Gibson once again proves that he is the master of the near-future. Believable descriptions of the next wave of technologies abound from the practical to the exotic. His crystal ball into society's future also seems flawless. However, Gibson has yet to recapture the pace or the force of the groundbreaking Neuromancer. The characters and concepts come across as real in this effort but the plot is thin and the pace crawls. A good read for gibson fans, nonetheless.
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