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Summary: Sterling's vision shines in Schismatrix
Review: Scared about the future? Is rapid technological change getting your panties in a bunch? If yes, then Schismatrix is your worst nightmare. For those of us that like cracking paradigms with a hammer, this is an excellent book. Why? Bruce shows us a compelling -- although unsettling -- view of the future that is at odds with much of today's received wisdom. Here are the two themes he developed that I think set him apart from the mainstream: 1) Will rapid technological advancement, particularly in biology, challenge our idea of what is human? Sterling's answer: Heck yes. You better broaden your definition of which attributes are necessary to be a human, anything and everything is possible when we take control of our own evolution. And there is nothing you can do about it.
2) Will the conquest of space be an orderly process akin to Star Trek? Sterlings answer: Hell no! It's a Diaspora -- everybody with an axe to grind heads for the hills, and frankly, they don't want to be bothored with some remote government's laws, taxes, or ethics. And there is nothing you can do about it.
To unite these two themes Bruce developed an entertaining story line and a single powerful philosophy for the future: we live in a world of unlimited possibilites which will be more strange, awful, and wonderful than you can imagine. To survive in this new world people must create their own reality and ignore what everybody else is doing. Don't think civilization, think tribe._________ My recommendation: Read this book. A lot of what Bruce sees will happen.
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Summary: Unity in diversity
Review: Sterling's book is a briliant extrapolation of possible outcome of current technological trends. Genetic enhancment, nanotechnology and human/machine interface are used as starting points for an intense narrative that uses the whole Galaxy as it's background. The charracters are vivid and well thought out. The fact that Sterling's heroes are changed humans allows him to play around with multiple SF ideas that have been the property of the genre for a long time but never taken to their logical and extreme concclusions. Sterling's faith in human potential and possibility of evolution through conquering of space and new technologies gives a pleasing end to a stimulating and enjoyable read despite showing two divergent strains (whence the title) behind the driving impulse of humanity's evolution. Not just an extremely well written novel, food for thought and new ideas as well are rewards of what is probably his best novel. In this edition are also collected stories from same Shaper/Mechanist universe which makes it a worthwhile addition to any real SF fan's collection.
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Summary: Future Intense
Review: Sterling's Shaper/Mechanist stories are dazzling and baroque; Sterling has a genuine feel for how truly -odd- the future might be, and his talent for creating believeable exotic societies is displayed brilliantly in this novel/story collection. "Swarm" is Sterling at his provocative best, and SCHISMATRIX itself is one of Sterling's two best novels (the other is the quieter HOLY FIRE)--it gives us not only a guided tour of Sterling's marvelous future but the moving and humane story of Abelard Lindsay. This is a must read for lovers of quality science fiction.
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Summary: Schismatrix transcends the genre
Review: There are a tiny handful sci-fi books that transcend the genre. Orwell's 1984 was one. So is Schismatrix. It's not typical sci-fi. It's not even a novel in any meaningful sense of the word. But it's THE REAL DEAL, signed, sealed and delivered. The Postmodernist Manifesto of Cyborg America, written twenty years before academia ever named the movement. And love it or hate it, you've got to read it. . . . I guarantee your grandkids will!
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Summary: I loved it
Review: This book is very very good. I understand now why Bruce Sterling is considered to be a co-founder of the Cyberpunk movement. This book reminded me of Alfred Bester's "Tiger! Tiger!". Abelard Lindsay is the most exciting figure I have encountered since Gulliver Foyle. The book develops the schism between the humanities and the mechanics, both of them are leaving mankind behind. I wonder if C. P Snow thought of this when he wrote Two Cultures. Abundance of ideas presented in short, hard efficient prose.
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Summary: The End of Science Fiction
Review: This epic is so powerful and amazing, it cannot be classed merely with other pieces of science fiction. Indeed, the term, "Greatest Science Fiction Novel of All Time" isn't enough for this story. Schismatrix demands to be considered along with the greatest pieces of philosophy, political science, historical analysis, fiction, mythology, and religion: no single tome is this book's equal! Matched in depth and flavor slightly by DUNE, Schismatrix Plus is dangerous. The more of the iceberg you see, the less stunning the mental picture. Just as each successive Dune book destroyed the beauty of the DUNE saga, the short stories compiled at the end of Schismatrix Plus offer a peering into the deeper Schismatrix cosmos... Unlike the Dune series, these stories only barely detract from the main feast... Schismatrix shatters all genres to live on a plane by itself. And Bruce Sterling: We're all waiting. Give us something else with this feel, this scale. Give us another epic.
Rating: 
Summary: It'll draw you in and make you wonder
Review: This is the type of book which you have to become a part of. You can't hope to read it and understand it. In some cases, I had to stop and reread passages one, two, even three times a piece. But once I dove into the meat of the book, needless to say I was entranced. I could easily see this book embodying the future (or is it vice versa?). I was not turned off by ridiculous technologies or superhuman beings. Instead, this book chooses to reflect upon basic human values, virtues, modes of thought and reason, and instrinsic drives and how they could easily push apart our race and fill us with ambition. The Shapes and the Mechs are beautfully crafted factions, each with real potential and dissidents. If you're looking for a book that will push you, that will make you think, that will drive you to wonder at the possibilities the future holds, I suggest clicking the add to cart button above right now.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: Those readers of the old school cyberpunk, back from the early to mid 80s will probably know Sterling's work, and his mechanist/shaper series. Schismatrix is an extended set of stories (really) stitched together that detail the journey of one man past humanity to whatever the next level is. Good vision, solid writing and fun to read. Also thrown in is a collection of follow-on stories set in the machanist/shaper world, that build on the history outlined in the previous novels. Again, more of the same good writing. Basically the writings are a cyberpunk sort of future that details the next set of developments for man. There are two paths and two warring factions. The shapers - who work inside the gene code - and the mechanists - who use machines to enhance man. Each of these viewpoints of life break further down into factions that have differing views of how to go about it, as well as interests, directions and futures. The world itself is a bustling one beyond the earth but inside the solar system. The science is all plausable with minimal hyper-whatsits and weird science. Well recommended to any fan of the cyberpunk genre.
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Summary: Primordial brain-soup for the cyber-swimmer
Review: Why is this book classed into the cyberpunk genre? I have no idea, because it is pretty distant from the likes of Gibson or Stephenson. If you've been turned off by the amoral bladerunneresque computer-noir of the typical cyberpunk novel, you won't find it here. What you will find is an epic comprising the 150+ year journey of a man through the social and technolical changes spawned by advanced biology, human-machine integration and life extension therapy. In the universe of this book, there are two factions vying for control of mankind's destiny. First is the Shapers, who disdain machines and focus on the biological sciences and improvement of man through genetic engineering. The other is the Mechanists, who utilize computers and machines to enhance and extand their capabilities. While it isn't the most stellar prose in terms of plotting or characters, it is chock-full of gooey, sweet ideas. He admits to writing in a "crammed prose" style in the introduction; but unlike Gibson, he does so without putting you to sleep. After the novel there are a set of short stories also set in the Shaper/Mechanist universe. These are excellent. Other reviewers liked them more than the novel itself, and I'm inclined to agree. One of the reviewers on the back cover calls Sterling "better than drugs," and I have come to appreciate the comparison: I feel like I'm having idea-flashbacks even now. This is good stuff!
Rating:
Summary: amazing
Review: With most books, you can read them several times and find something new in them each time through. With this book, it's an absolute necessity. The ideas expressed are so numerous, there must be at least two or three lurking on every other page. It would take probably a half dozen readings to really peg them all. The story itself is visionary, immensly complicated, and superbly executed, with a protaganist I couldn't help but admire and root for. This book definately has an incredibly unique flavor. This is one space epic absolutely worth owning.
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