William Gibson has a pretty stellar reputation in science fiction circles. He helped create “cyberpunk” and coined the word “cyberspace,” and has had a huge influence on other writers. Neuromancer is the book that started it all. First published in 1984, it won the Nebula, the Philip K. Dick Award, and the Hugo, a feat that had never been done before. Gibson had been making a name for himself with short stories when asked to write a novel for Ace Science Fiction Specials. He had a year to write the book and was terrified that it would be a flop. Little did he know what was in store.
Neuromancer is often said to be the first time anyone used the word “cyberspace,” but Gibson had used it in an earlier short story called “Burning Chrome” that became a seed for Neuromancer. I won’t give you a summary, you can find those lots of places including Wikipedia where I also got the information about Gibson, above.
Some people have found the book really confusing, especially in the beginning. I didn’t find it confusing, but I did have to pay close attention. The thing with scifi is that there is often a part in the very beginning in which the author is world-building, throwing out words and places and events as if the reader is supposed to know what is all means. But I have found that if I pay attention and don’t try to figure it all out, just keep reading, there is a point where it all eventually makes sense. And if it is a good book and well-written like Neuromancer, the author can continue to add all kinds of things that won’t even make me blink twice.
I really enjoyed the book and it is clear its influence has spread far and wide throughout science fiction because a lot of what was so amazing about the book in 1984 is pretty commonplace now. Cyberspace of course has entered our everyday vocabulary. “Jacking in” to the “matrix” is nothing novel anymore. The idea of neuro-implants and body modifications, of saving someone’s consciousness as an artificial intelligence, of hacking and creating viruses to break through “ICE” (intrusion countermeasures electronics) is not so new and astonishing. On the cover of my copy of the book is a blurb from the Village Voice that says, “A mindbender of a read.” My mind did not get bendy. If I had read this in 1984 though when I was 16, wow, would I have been so totally blown away. But in 2011, not so much.
Don’t let that keep you from reading the book though. Neuromancer might not have the same mindbending effect it did originally but it is still classic science fiction and an excellent read. This is the first time I have read Gibson and it definitely won’t be the last. I believe I have a copy of Pattern Recognition around here somewhere.
I agree with everything you said here. “Neuromancer” seems dated nowadays (when was the last time you saw or used a cassette?), but thematically, it does everything science fiction is supposed to do. And “Neuromancer” succeeds mostly because of its themes. I just kept picturing Keanu Reeves as Case, and I wished I could wipe away “The Matrix” while reading “Neuromancer.”
I also have “Pattern Recognition,” and tried reading it a few months ago. I couldn’t get into it, probably because I was starting it so soon after “Neuromancer.”
I remember reading this in a science fiction class I took in college. I didn’t like it as much as some of the other selections, but you are right, it broke major ground. After having some time to let it sink in, I actually appreciate it a lot more!
If I recall correctly, my favorite book of that term was Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom. Check it out!
I was never into Science Fiction in years past so I missed this one. I’d love to read it even though it might seem a bit dated now. The scary thing is how the SF from the 60′s and 70′s has actually come true!
As a child I read ever science fiction book I could get my hands on and in later years, as a primary teacher, went on reading what was being published for children to try and get the boys interested. But, somehow I’ve never got into the adult variety. Are you a connoisseur? If so, would this be a good place to start or could you recommend something more appropriate?
This is a huge book, isn’t it? I have a vague recollection of my husband reading it (unless of course, it’s a novella and I’m remembering something completely different). Not quite my cup of tea, but always a pleasure to read your reviews.
Brandon, heh, yeah the cassette was kind of funny. You can’t reimagine everything I suppose. I had trouble with getting The Matrix out of my head for awhile too and just when I thought I had got over it, Keanu Reeves would pop back into my head. Very unfortunate. I’ll be sure to allow a sufficient amount of time to pass before I attempt Pattern Recognition. Perhaps I will read some Philip K. Dick. Sadly, I have somehow managed to miss him in my reading.
Hungry bookworm, I’ve not read Docotorow. Thanks for the book tip. I will have to be sure to download it to my Kindle.
Kathleen, isn’t if fun to read old SF and realize how much of it has come true? I’m still waiting for a space ship though
Annie, I’m not sure connoisseur is the word. I do enjoy good scifi though. Some favorites are Ray Bradbury, Ursula Leguin (Left Hand of Darkeness and The Dispossessed), Frank Herbert’s Dune series, Robert Heinlein was a favorite of mine in college. For good fun the Hitchhiker’s Guide serie by Douglas Adams. And if you want a good space opera, M.K. Wren’s Phoenix Legacy trilogy is most excellent. I could gone on but I will spare you
I’m not there is a good place to start, just dive in!
Litlove, this one is not so huge. Mine is a mass market of probably 250-300 pages. Maybe you are thinking of Necromancer by Brian Lumley? It’s horror and pretty fat and I’ve confused it in my mind with Neuromancer before.
Funny you mention Dick; I just picked up “Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said.” I’ve never read him, either, but I’ve been on a sci-fi kick for the last few months. I’d also like to read Stanislaw Lem at some point.
Brandon, I’d like to read Lem sometime too. My husband has read a few of his and says he’s good, plus he’s ranked among the must-reads in SF.
Since I already love science fiction, even older stuff, this one was on one of my lists. I think you mentioned earlier that the Bookman was enjoying it. Well, now I guess I’m going to have to do something about it!
The plot of this one seemed a little muddled to me, but I really liked the world-building. I’ve actually come to the conclusion that that’s the part I enjoy most in almost any scifi or fantasy novel. If the story and characters are interesting, that’s all the better.
Jenclair, this is a good one especially if you like the older stuff. There is something to be said for classic SF.
Teresa, yes, I agree, there was some muddle in the plot somewhere in the middle, but I thought it sorted itself out by the end. World-building is pretty fascinating, isn’t it? There are so many different ways it can be done and it’s interesting to watch someone else’s imagination at work.
I admit I’m not a Sci-Fi fan. The most recent one I read, actually quite recent because of the movie just come out, is Philip Dick’s The Adjustment Team, a short story. But after reading Sherry Turkle’s Alone Together, where she spends half the book on the topic of The Networked Self, I just might try Neuromancer. After all, it’s right here on the shelf… my son’s book.
How did I manage to skip your comment Arti? If you try Neuromancer I’d be really interested to hear what you make of it especially since you are not a SF fan.
I don’t read much sci-fi, but when I do read it, I enjoy it. So perhaps I should read more! With you and Hobgoblin both enjoying Gibson, this would be a natural place to start. Oh, and do you follow him on Twitter? He’s @greatdismal.
I should add this one to my list. Even if it is not a mindbender today as it was at first, I’m so behind it would still likely blow me away!
Dorothy, if you try Gibson I will be interested in your take since you say you don’t read much scifi. And I don’t follow him on Twitter but I will now. Thanks!
Danielle, LOL, I’m sure you aren’t as behind as you think you are. You will be surprised at how familiar so much of it seems.
I suppose sci-fi will always have that downside – that at some point technology will surpass the imagined world of the book and will lose some of its mind-bending impact. But it’s always very interesting to see in retrospect and apply its themes to the modern-day. It may very well be that Neuromancer won’t have the same influence on me as a reader as it might have had on someone my age in 1984, but it will give me a glimpse of what people in 1984 saw coming up and – if it’s truly timeless – will entertain me and teach me life lessons regardless.
Bibliobio, you are right, technology does at some point catch up to scifi, except for space travel and colonizing other worlds. We’ve not got there quite yet. Neuromancer does present an interesting retrospective look particularly since so much of what it imagines has become, if not commonplace, then not unknown.