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The Difference Engine
The Difference Engine
Author: William Gibson, Bruce Sterling
1855: The Industrial Revolution is in full and inexorable swing, powered by steam-driven cybernetic Engines.  Charles Babbage perfects his Analytical Engine and the computer age arrives a century ahead of its time.  Great Britain, with the benefit of this new technology, prepares to better the world.  In London, fierce summer heat...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780553294613
ISBN-10: 055329461X
Publication Date: 2/1/1992
Pages: 448
Rating:
  • Currently 3.2/5 Stars.
 83

3.2 stars, based on 83 ratings
Publisher: Spectra/BantamDoubledayDell
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio CD
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed The Difference Engine on + 101 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This is an "And" book. (William Gibson and Bruce Sterling.) I think publishers push this lousy idea. I feel Gibson could be a real force in contemporary English Literature- every once in a while he throws lighting bolts that take your breath away. Sterling I'm not familiar with- have to read him soon. This novel is a clever "What if...?" book. Logic systems do not have to be driven electrically to compute, and what if Brittania still ruled? It's a good read.
robn avatar reviewed The Difference Engine on + 9 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
The book is good, but not the best writing that Gibson has done. The setting is pre-industrial London and is something of an alternate history book. The characters are well written and the plot travels well except for a somewhat jarring jump about 3/4 of the way through when the main protagonists are changed and the last chapter, which is a random smattering of "writings of the time". I felt I could tell which parts were written by each author and I preferred those I feel were Gibsons, who is one of my favorite authors.
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srhen avatar reviewed The Difference Engine on + 10 more book reviews
I expected more. I like steam-punk and Gibson is generally a good author, but the sudden changes in perspective were a distraction. The novel suddenly jumped from first person perspective of a prostitute to the protagonist, and then ended in news clippings.
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reviewed The Difference Engine on
Great premise. I wish the stories and the characters were more fleshed out.


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