Tag: #cyberpunk

Solip:System — Walter Jon Williams

By 5t4n5

Solip:System -- Walter Jon WilliamsI believe this novella was written as an afterthought to attempt to bridge a gap between Hardwired and Voice of the Whirlwind, thus creating a trilogy once a few things got ironed out in Voice of the Whirlwind.

Which i think is a bit bad because this book is a very much needed sequel to Hardwired whether or not there was another book to follow.

I’m definitely pleased it was written as it does finish off Hardwired and Nero’s escapades as Roon rather nicely.

Brilliant novella, and now i dive straight into Voice of the Whirlwind.

Walter’s Page

#scifi #cyberpunk #walterjonwilliams

Hardwired — Walter Jon Williams

By 5t4n5

Hardwired -- Walter Jon WilliamsThis is one of those books with lots of jargon that isn’t explained in advance, and so you wander through a world with nomenclature and terminoloy that means nothing to you until, in the case of the term “thatch” for example, you get over 60% of the way into the story before someone explains what the word means. I would suggest that it’s definitely well worth reading the bit at the back named “Panzerboy” before you begin as that helps a little settling in.

Other than the nomenclature/terminology issue, which i suggest you just deal with it and accept it for what it is, it’s a super good story that became a very much couldn’t-put-downer towards the end — which is kinda once i’ve figured out all the nomenclature/terminology — and i found myself diving straight into Solip:System without a pause.

It’s certainly got me wanting to re-read the series again in a few years time now i know what things mean before i begin.

So yes, indeedy, it’s certainly rather good cyberpunk and worthy of it’s praises as a classic of the genre.

Walter’s Page

#scifi #cyberpunk #walterjonwilliams

Mona Lisa Overdrive — William Gibson

By 5t4n5

Mona Lisa Overdrive -- William GibsonAs our story continues on from Count Zero we go off on a crazy ride round the world with a whole bunch of new characters and some of the old favourites as well.

And this story really does bounce around as our various characters all begin in different places doing very different things.

All in all a super good end to a super good trilogy.   I’ll definitely be back to read more William Gibson in the future.

William’s Page

#cyberpunk #williamgibson

Count Zero — William Gibson

By 5t4n5

Count Zero -- William GibsonLike the preceding Neuromancer, William makes you make some effort to keep up, and once again, it’s effort well repaid.

Adding insult to injury, this is the second copy i’ve tried of this book and they’ve both been rather badly edited.   I’m not sure whether the original book is like that or if it’s the fault of the copying it over into ebook format.   Anyway, i’ll judge it on the idea that the original doesn’t have all the punctuation and grammar faults and judge it as a damned good book, because, for all it’s faults in that area, it was well worth muddling through and making the effort for a really good story and characters.

Other thing to note: don’t expect to begin where you left off with Neuromancer either, because you won’t be.   Instead you’ll be thrown around here there and everywhere in between with general hints and a few characters from Neuromancer popping up and/or in or maybe just getting a mention in passing.

Anyways, all is good and i’m straight into Mona Lisa Overdrive.

William’s Page

#cyberpunk #williamgibson

Neuromancer — William Gibson

By 5t4n5

Neuromancer -- William GibsonWritten in such a similar way to the Hardwired Trilogy, in that it hops around a fair bit and you have to pay attention else you’ll soon find yourself lost in the matrix.   So i wouldn’t suggest even trying this book if you’re one of those readers who needs their words spoon feeding to them.

But for those of us who like to pay attention and use our brains a bit when we’re reading, this is a great book and certainly pays back your efforts.

Probably not a good book for amphetamine/coke addicts in recovery as the main protagonist is a full on speed freak.

It’s sooo good the first thing i did when i finished it — even before i wrote this review — is begin to read Count Zero.   I’ll see you there when i finish it.

William’s Page

#cyberpunk #sfmasterworks #williamgibson

Deep Ocean Blues — Yudhanjaya Wijeratne

By 5t4n5

Deep Ocean Blues -- Yudhanjaya WijeratneAn interesting little novella based in a deep ocean thorium mine with a human, an AI and a bunch of OctoPods as workers: OctoPods are cyborg octopuses in case you were wondering.

It mostly explores the same theme as Blade Runner, as in, what is it to be me.

I am left thinking that there’s at least a full length novel in this deep underwater world and the onshore world that supports it and squabbles over the rights.   There’s certainly a lot of interesting space for a novel or three to explore and fill.

Available in 2054 and also to read for free at Yudhanjaya’s website.

Yudhanjaya’s Page

#scifi #cyberpunk #yudhanjayawijeratne

Nova — Samuel R. Delany

By 5t4n5

Nova -- Samuel R. DelanyHaving previously read Babel-17 i was very much hoping this was just as good: so i did have very high expectations and it certainly had a lot to live up to.

So, yes, i did set out rather biased when i began to read this book, and while i have to say that it didn’t quite meet with my expectations with regards to Babel-17, it was still a very enjoyable read.

Samuel certainly has his own style, very arty, very high brow, and also very imaginative: Nova holds it’s place as one of the books which gave birth to the cyberpunk genre.   But where Babel-17 felt like a timeless read, Nova did feel a little dated to me, like it’s from the 1960’s or something.

But dated or not, it certainly has earned a deserving place in the “SF Masterworks” series.

Samuel’s Page

#scifi #sfmasterworks #samuelrdelany