Book Reviews of Neuromancer (Remembering Tomorrow)

Published in 1984, Gibson describes a Blade Runner type world complete with a matrix that humans jack-in-to for a virtual experience. This is years before Matrix films were created and released. Gibson even developed his own realistic "techno" language years before on-line world took off.

The biggest difficulty I had is Gibson's extensive use of this language. It adds to the story to make it more real, but slows the read and makes it at times hard to understand.

Way too cyber-punk for me. Didn't even make sense at times. Gibson is ordinarily a talented writer, but fell short here in basic explanation (even contextually) about what the heck is going on in this novel.

After hearing about this book for years, I finally had a chance to read it - and was a bit disappointed. While I will always appreciate this novel as the one that kicked off a whole new era of science fiction, there have been so many variations on this theme that Neuromancer's plot itself now comes across as a little plain.

I also had a little bit of trouble swallowing some of the plot points and character interactions - I spent a lot of time thinking "Well, I'm sure XYZ happened for a reason, but I wish I knew what that reason was."

I kept trying very hard to like this novel, being that it's been to sci-fi what Lord of the Rings was to fantasy, but it just seemed like a lot of work getting through the plot to finish a story I've heard retold a thousand times since it was written.

Freshly imagined, compellingly detailed, and chilling in it's impications.

I read this back in 1986 when it came out in paperback- it knocked my socks off! I just finished re-reading it- it's just as fresh today. If you are into S/F you should read this fast moving, disturbing, look at a distinctly possible future. I'm an early PC builder/user and have always been concerned about "Artificial" intelligence. Keep in mind that biology limits the custard consistancy meat computer we all lug around. There are NO such limits on computers. Jump on Gibson's manic rollercoaster- you won't be dissapointed.

Everything cyberpunk is based off of this on some level. A very good story.

The first cyperpunk sci fi book. Winner of the triple crown of awards: Philip K. Dick, Hugo & Nebula. Fast paced action in a nightmare future.

really fun read. gibson is one of the best sci fi writers.

The novel that introduced "the Matrix" as the defining concept at the center of cyberspace culture.

I love a good cyberpunk novel, and "Neuromancer" by William Gibson is considered one of the groundbreakers in the genre. It's a good story with a slightly dystopian setting that really enhances the story (and is very typical for cyberpunk).

Readers new to cyberpunk may be put off by the "made-up" words Gibson tosses around freely, but they're easily digested within the context of the story, and he rarely over-uses them to the point of annoyance. A great book I heartily recommend as an intro to cyberpunk -- it's fairly short, as novels go, so you won't have to devote a lot of time to it.

Another good intro to cyberpunk is "Snow Crash" by Neal Stephenson.

amazing with rich langauge and a structure that makes you think you're missing out on something, keeping you with it the whole time.

Confusing and hard to read, it's a bit overrated

You're vaguely familiar with "cyberspace," right? The Matrix? Some other film with Keanu in it? Find out where it started (Like P.K. Dick, it might be a little more raw than you expect).

Better be smart!

William Gibson has created a rich, detailed, and vivid near-future, populated with uncomfortably realistic characters..an amazingly complex novel. Some will enjoy it as a fast-paced, exciting adventure; others will claim it's actually a very subtle, clever mystery; still others will see it as a thought-provoking social discourse...."Neuromancer" is a MAJOR NOVEL. It is difficult to compare it to other works for the simple reason that it really is new, and different... "A flashy tour of a remarkably well-visualized future..Gibson manufactures wild details with a virtuoso's glee...an impressive new voice!" Review from Newsday

For fans of Science Fiction this author is a must. This book details the adventures of a man "dancing" along the net. Difficult to explain but exciting to read. If you like the Matrix movies you might find this story their progenitor. Of course William Gibson does it better!

A classic. Gibson dreamed of the internet long before it was a reality.

The book which coined the term 'cyber'. Classic sci-fi. Doesnt get better than this.

My rating is skewed because this is pivotal work with many awards, BUT I bailed after too many unlikely scenes and sequences. A bit like advanced physics: I'm probably not smart enough to get it.

This book was a challenging read. You kind of have to NOT try to follow the plot in order to understand it.

It's the "Dick Tracy" of cyberspace. A nitty-gritty detective story with a metaphysical twist.

You better have read this then! Gibson's book was absolutely phenomenal, and the way he bends your mind with new and different ways he sees technology (and the world) going in the future is absolutely wild! Be warned, he sees a dark future, so this is not for the feint of heart! However, the adventure this book takes you on is one you will remember!

This book shows again why Gibson is considered one of the SF greats. Our whole vocabulary for the internet world seems to come from this mid-eighties book.

From the back cover:
Case was the best interface cowboy who ever ran in earth's computer matrix. Then he doublecrossed the wrong people.

Cyberpunk classic

Science fiction. Case ran earth's computer matrix.

Winner of the Hugo, Nebula and Philip K. Dick Awards

Very good cyberpunk

This is a classic, and I read it because it is a foundation work in modern sci-fi.

The opening line, "The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel." says it all. Awesome book. I'd reccomend this book to anyone interested in the Cyberpunk genre. Can be a bit esoteric at times, Gibson likes to put in a lot of hard to understand references. Despite this, Gibson writes an engaging book. If you liked Blade Runner, you'll probably enjoy this book.

Excellent cyberpunk novel. You have to be into cyberpunk sci-fi (Blade Runner, anything else by Gibson) to really get into the book. Great setting, excellent characters, and a fast-moving plot mark this as one of Gibson's best novels.

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