Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 (Tek) 9/26/83; site vice.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!ihnp4!zehntel!tektronix!tekchips!vice!keithl From: keithl@vice.UUCP (Keith Lofstrom) Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers Subject: Neuromancer Message-ID: <1356@vice.UUCP> Date: Wed, 27-Jun-84 00:14:11 EDT Article-I.D.: vice.1356 Posted: Wed Jun 27 00:14:11 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 22-Jun-84 20:40:55 EDT Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR Lines: 29 <> Neuromancer, William Gibson, Ace Specials, $2.95 ppb. This book seems like a three way cross between Bladerunner (the movie), True Names by Vinge, and the Ophiuchi Hotline by Varley. The book follows protagonist Case from the criminal underworld of Chiba City, Japan, to the space habitat Villa Straylight. He is a computer "cowboy", whose job is to crack computer systems and steal data. The world he works in, cyberspace, is reminiscent of the artificial world in True Names, but a lot more deadly. The scenery is gloomy, violent, and high-tech. The characters are burned out, drug-ridden, and jaded. The computers are Machiavellian. Authority appears (briefly) in the form of the Turing police, who work to destroy artificial intelligences that grow beyond certain bounds. The love interest is Molly, a surgically modified mercenary, or "razorgirl". I won't recommend this wholeheartedly, because it is rather strange, downbeat, and doesn't have much of an ending. BUT, the language is good, the concepts are fascinating, and the imagery is splendid. Very realistic extrapolation. Worth checking out if you can handle a little gloom. -- Keith Lofstrom uucp: {ucbvax,decvax,chico,pur-ee,cbosg,ihnss}!tektronix!vice!keithl CSnet: keithl@tek ARPAnet:keithl.tek@rand-relay