I'll never forget that the first mp3 I ever downloaded was WG's self-read (and quite edited) Neuromancer audiobook -- must've been late 90's or early 00's. It is four pairs of 45min files and features an excellent techno soundtrack by U2's The Edge. I had never heard of the novel before he released the mp3s for free due to his publisher deciding they needed a more professional version. I have listened to it hundreds of times as programming background sound, such that I can still wow my fam by repeating entire random sections of it.
Much later, I have listened to his latest two books, The Peripheral and Agency many times (with teenage daughter), and love them as they are more actual sci-fi. That said, his previous trilogy (Pattern Recognition, Spook Country, and Zero History) are our favorite of his now, though they are barely what most would consider sci-fi. All his books are really capers and weave in his unique, poignant, and heart-oriented perspectives on our modern world.
It is worth noting that his collection of non-fiction articles, Distrust that Particular Flavor, is thought-provoking and simply wonderful.
Surely you have already seen it, but for anyone else that finds this interesting there is "No Maps for These Territories". A close to 25 year old documentary with Gibson talking that is still enjoyable. Can be found on The Internet Archive and YouTube.
You can search YT for "William Gibson Reads Neuromancer", and it's the first result, a playlist of eight pieces. It starts the same, but it seems to be of a higher quality. It says it is abridged, and I didn't realize how much until rather recently.
As someone who has spent their fair share of days in Vancouver, it blows my mind during some wet early mornings, that this city was where cyberpunk's cradle could be considered, where Gibson wrote Neuromancer. The rain, the grit, the grey, all shared across time and space and pages, and in between each of them, glimpses of the future. It's something about the genre that delights my sense of wonder, of who we as a species have come from and where we're going.
I really enjoyed continuum and felt that the last season was a bit abrupt leaving a lot unexplored.
I still imagine a halo device from that show that i think would do well to be made, I imagine a garmin/iwatch that also completes lifestyle and healthcare needs on steroids that also replaces smart phones
> "Case, the hapless protagonist, stumbles between crises, barely knowing what’s going on, at risk from a femme fatale and being made offers he cannot refuse from mysterious Mr. Bigs.” Again, you don’t read William Gibson for the plot.
I think this misses one of the most striking aspects of the novel, that Gibson was talking about the singularity and the possibility, or inevitability, of AI. The glossy cool and limited character arcs were in service of a broader statement about society and culture. Gibson was making statements about class difference and what kind of effect the rapid change of technology had on society.
It's like saying the "The Wire"'s characters are two dimensional because they get buffeted by a system that's deeply flawed. The point is that the system is effectively a character in it's own right.
The article notably also doesn't mention Borges, who I believe is a very strong influence to Gibson (though maybe not for Neuromancer?) [0].
Have read the book many times. And even played the game many times (Amiga mostly). I recall one mp3 where Gibson reads the book. It wasn't very good. Kind of rushed. Always been a huge fan though. I wonder if we will ever get the movie ;)
I'll never forget that the first mp3 I ever downloaded was WG's self-read (and quite edited) Neuromancer audiobook -- must've been late 90's or early 00's. It is four pairs of 45min files and features an excellent techno soundtrack by U2's The Edge. I had never heard of the novel before he released the mp3s for free due to his publisher deciding they needed a more professional version. I have listened to it hundreds of times as programming background sound, such that I can still wow my fam by repeating entire random sections of it.
Much later, I have listened to his latest two books, The Peripheral and Agency many times (with teenage daughter), and love them as they are more actual sci-fi. That said, his previous trilogy (Pattern Recognition, Spook Country, and Zero History) are our favorite of his now, though they are barely what most would consider sci-fi. All his books are really capers and weave in his unique, poignant, and heart-oriented perspectives on our modern world.
It is worth noting that his collection of non-fiction articles, Distrust that Particular Flavor, is thought-provoking and simply wonderful.
Surely you have already seen it, but for anyone else that finds this interesting there is "No Maps for These Territories". A close to 25 year old documentary with Gibson talking that is still enjoyable. Can be found on The Internet Archive and YouTube.
Does this version with the cool soundtrack still exist?
You can search YT for "William Gibson Reads Neuromancer", and it's the first result, a playlist of eight pieces. It starts the same, but it seems to be of a higher quality. It says it is abridged, and I didn't realize how much until rather recently.
Thanks!
As someone who has spent their fair share of days in Vancouver, it blows my mind during some wet early mornings, that this city was where cyberpunk's cradle could be considered, where Gibson wrote Neuromancer. The rain, the grit, the grey, all shared across time and space and pages, and in between each of them, glimpses of the future. It's something about the genre that delights my sense of wonder, of who we as a species have come from and where we're going.
I didn’t realize the Neuromancer was written in Vancouver!
There’s a less well know cyberpunk adjacent TV show, Continuum, that’s set in Vancouver, year 2077 and all that :) It’s surprisingly good!
I really enjoyed continuum and felt that the last season was a bit abrupt leaving a lot unexplored.
I still imagine a halo device from that show that i think would do well to be made, I imagine a garmin/iwatch that also completes lifestyle and healthcare needs on steroids that also replaces smart phones
The opening line: "The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel".
And how it all can and probably will go to hell
Good article but some points I think it misses:
> "Case, the hapless protagonist, stumbles between crises, barely knowing what’s going on, at risk from a femme fatale and being made offers he cannot refuse from mysterious Mr. Bigs.” Again, you don’t read William Gibson for the plot.
I think this misses one of the most striking aspects of the novel, that Gibson was talking about the singularity and the possibility, or inevitability, of AI. The glossy cool and limited character arcs were in service of a broader statement about society and culture. Gibson was making statements about class difference and what kind of effect the rapid change of technology had on society.
It's like saying the "The Wire"'s characters are two dimensional because they get buffeted by a system that's deeply flawed. The point is that the system is effectively a character in it's own right.
The article notably also doesn't mention Borges, who I believe is a very strong influence to Gibson (though maybe not for Neuromancer?) [0].
[0] https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20140902-the-20th-centur...
Have read the book many times. And even played the game many times (Amiga mostly). I recall one mp3 where Gibson reads the book. It wasn't very good. Kind of rushed. Always been a huge fan though. I wonder if we will ever get the movie ;)
Apple is making a tv-series right now