Neuromancer (William Gibson)
25 June 2025
The sky above the port was the colour of television, tuned to a dead channel.
William Gibson revolutionised science fiction in his 1984 debut Neuromancer. The writer who gave us the matrix and coined the term 'cyberspace' produced a first novel that won the Hugo, Nebula and Philip K. Dick Awards, and lit the fuse on the Cyberpunk movement.
More than three decades later, Gibson's text is as stylish as ever, his noir narrative still glitters like chrome in the shadows and his depictions of the rise and abuse of corporate power look more prescient every day. Part thriller, part warning, Neuromancer is a timeless classic of modern SF and one of the 20th century's most potent and compelling visions of the future.
Average Rating:
Graham MacDonald (9 July 2025 16:28)
In retrospect my 2 star rating in February 1999 was harsh. It's not perfect and it feels quite anachronistic now given the current state of 'cyberspace' but it is a rather fun blend of old school Chandler style noir and modern future-tech and feels a lot fresher than many of it's later imitators. The characterisation didn't bother me as much as it did previously and it also feels much more deliberate. Interested to see how they turn it into a TV series! Obviously a seminal text and deservedly so but I'm not sure I can be bothered with the sequels.