Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Let’s just get this out of the way. There’s a particular review that was put up the day the book was released where it’s clear the reviewer was triggered by the book and wrote a review, having not actually finished the book but got so mad at Gibson for talking about what’s wrong and right. Anyone surprised by the political tone of this book—kleptocracy baaa’d—either hasn’t read Gibson before or hasn’t thought that one of the main themes in his books has always been: Money and the consequences of extreme wealth. You don’t need to be Einstein to realize Neuromancer was as deeply political about economics as much as it was about technology. Almost all his book have these themes. This book is where he is most explicit about it. If you’re surprised that Gibson has a different political opinion than you do, you may want to pause and consider that one of the most prescient writers of the future and near-future is very much saying what is currently going on is deeply wrong. What this book in particular is very much about is Freedom-agency to choose one’s path. I will say it may not be Gibson’s best book but I think it’s his most effective at capturing a certain sense of the future that a lot of people are feeling right now. And that is worth something. It’s a quick read. Enjoy. Think of what might have been. Also think: what if we’re in a stub? Feb 22.2020 Addendum: now that that awful Troll of a review has been removed or deleted, hopefully, in time, a much better review than mine will be the top review