Idoru by William Gibson Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Idoru
Book Review: Come on, Gibson!
Summary: 2 Stars
We want more from the guy who came up with Burning Chrome and Neuromancer! To William Gibson: "You can do it! You did once, so it must be in there. Go back and start fresh and do it again! " I've read all of Gibson's works so far, and I have to agree with the review by Josh and others. This book wasn't even as good as Virtual Light. Definitely "light reading for that ride on the train". I will, for now, keep buying and reading his books, but I really, really miss the old Gibson.Book Review: Consistency contingent
Summary: 4 Stars
While reading this book, I sometimes found it troubling the similarities in the sentences and plot with many of his earlier works were more apparent, however there is something new and different this time. I have read that it was not a focused effort to keep these characters and settings for a second trilogy, however I don't actually believe that. What is truly unbelieveable is the fact that Gibson is still able to construct and project some of his views through his characters while not overshadowing the characters themselves. It is not as consistent in the first trilogy, where the twisted mindsets of those running around above and below the planet were dictating the story in an escalating manner, and ignoring the psyche of each character, but as a continuing effort in his craft, Gibson doesn't dissappoint. If the next course is more of the same, I could handle it. I just don't think Gibson could.....But then maybe I shouldn't have starting reading from the middle...
Book Review: Converging details
Summary: 4 Stars
Idoru follows the stories of 14 year old Chia, who has been sent to Japan by her chapter of the Lo Rez fan club to investigate a marriage rumor, and of Laney, whose ADD allows him to focus focus and spot patterns that show more probable outcomes and who has been hired to focus focus on the marriage rumor. Their stories converge around the rumor that rock star Rez plans to marry Rei Toei, an idoru or machine generated character.
Chia quickly becomes mixed up in some type of smuggling operation when she carries a bag through customs for someone. She tries hard to find out as little as possible what is being smuggled. As she tries to find out whatever she can about Rez's intention to marry, she realizes that someone is looking for her and is soon much more interested in safely evading the smugglers.
Laney's story contains many flashbacks that show his motivations. Because he can spot patterns in reams of data about a person, he once realized that someone he was analyzing as part of his job was going to commit suicide. His attempts to get into a cleaner type of analysis motivate most of his actions.
A big positive was the way the stories came together. Although Rei Toei is only background most of the time, she appears and when she does she seems to have been doing more along the way. Little details fall into place, maybe something like details falling together for one of Laney's "nodal points." It is also nice that most of the characters are fleshed out.
A negative was that this book dragged and only got going for me near the end. I'm not such a fan of Gibson's writing style, so if you like his style, then this may not be a problem for you.
Book Review: Cyber punk classic
Summary: 4 Stars
The person who gave us the term "cyberspace" and a pioneer of cyberpunk fiction. William Gibson gives us :"Idoru" Idoru is a Tale Of two People who don't know each other who end up entangled in the same plot.
Chia Pet Mackinze (Greatest name since Hiro Protaginist(Snow Crash)) is a 14 year old Fan club member for a Band called Lo/Rez "Volunteered" to investigate a rumor involving one of the bands's founders Rez she ends up over her head. Rez it turns out is supossed to marry Rei Toei Japan's biggest pop Idol(thing is Rei is a virtual Being and doesn't exist physically)
Colin Laney is an out of work Info Fisher (he can see Patterns in data and deduce a person's life merely from the info they interact with). When a job at a tabloid network gets him in hot water he somehow ends up working to protect REZ.
Chia and Colin find themselves in a complex plot to cover up something that ends up endangering them both.
The story is fairly simple to follow but still a satisfying read. With interesting characters and switching from Chia and Laney's point of view until they meet (sort of)
Since this is my first Gibson read I still look forward to his classics "Neuromancer and Virtual light and count zero and the rest" if you want to get started in cyber punk fiction it is a good begining and you haven't read "Snow Crash go for it.
Book Review: Don't Bother...
Summary: 2 Stars
Talk about cardboard characters and no plot and you've got William Gibson down to a T!!! The only thing that saves this book - a thought that applies to almost all his work - is the near-future background. That's all! AND it is NOT enough. Having read Neuromancer and loved the pace I have been consistently disappointed since. Idoru made me finally decide never to try another of his works.