Virtual Light by William Gibson Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Virtual Light
Book Review: More story, less technology
Summary: 5 Stars
William Gibson is an author that creates characters and situations that capture your imagination. When you put one of his books down your thoughts stay with the story. Gibson is a major player in the Sci-Fi genre. His visions of technology and the world to come have influenced many other visions from the TV shows like Dark Angel to films like the Matrix.Fans of Gibson's work love and hate Virtual Light. In one hand his writing style is still there but the high technology of Neuromancer has been replaced by a less advanced technological culture. Those readers expecting another high adrenaline rush through the matrix almost gave up on virtual light. One of the appeals of Gibson's work is the vision of technology. The world of Virtual light predates the world of Neuromancer by leaps. The Eye phones and goggles take the place of the nerve-splicing and micro bionics seen in his earlier work. The lesser technology almost seems childish in comparison but it does provide an intermediate step for those of us who hope and wish for a glimpse of the matrix as a reality. "Virtual Light" leans more to the characters and plot than earlier work and gives a rich smooth story some times humorous some times sad. The characters take on more than just three dimensions. You can feel them grow and develop as the story continues. Now, if your new to Gibson start with `Virtual Light' then read the sequels `Idoru' and `All Tomorrow's Parties' to get a feel of Gibson's style and technology. Then brace yourself and take the leap to `Neuromancer', `Count Zero', `Mona Lisa Overdrive' and finish up with the collection of short stories that is `Burning Chrome'. On the other hand if you've already read `Neuromancer' or its sequels then try to put aside the lack of technology and just enjoy the story.
Book Review: My favorite Gibson
Summary: 5 Stars
Maybe it's just because I was raised in Arkansas and I live in a trailer park that I love this one so much. Dunno, but I love how Gibson captures that strange, backward, what we down here call that 'redneck' or 'white trash' feel. The weird Jesus fanatics and the effect that television has on us down here is JUST LIKE THAT. Like at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs where you can park your RV at a private, fenced-in campground where "Jesus Christ is Lord."Book Review: My favorite Gibson book. Better than Neuromancer.
Summary: 5 Stars
This is by far my favorite William Gibson book. As mentioned in other peoples Amazon reviews, the plot was not up to his usual standard. Their views of his style, and "cartoon-like" characters, however, is completely wrong. His style is fabulous, and I found nearly all of the characters very interesting.
I believe its the little details that make Gibson's work so interesting. He carefully creates his settings, atmosphere, and characters using unique and powerful prose. I recall someone once refering to it as "really long, epic poetry".
Overall good book. Buy it :)
Book Review: Mystified by good reviews
Summary: 2 Stars
Well, at least it's easy to read.
Everyone and their sister has been telling me this is a must-read, and I'm left wondering why. The writing is weak, the character development nonexistant, the "suspense" not at all suspenseful, the dialogue hokey with *italics* all *over* the *place*, and the plot not terribly engaging. This novel could have been condensed into a 50-page short story, and nothing would have been lost.
Book Review: Not Free SF Reader
Summary: 3 Stars
Your future may not be bright if you are wearing these shades.
Gibson's technological level regresses from that of the Sprawl books. No cybernetic implants here, but old fashioned gear like googles and gloves for connections.
A lowly courier gets into trouble when lifting the wrong pair of glasses - a super advanced gear prototype with some startling abilities.
Through in a down on his luck investigator and another shady, seedy tale follows.
3 out of 5