(partial) Book review #3 - Needs no introduction.

         Neuromancer was written by Vancouver based author William Gibson in 1984, and it is most famous for not only being an excellent read, but also for claiming the 'triple-crown' of sci-fi awards (the Hugo, Nebula, and Philip K. Dick).


In the world of Neuromancer, the reader follows the events of a drug addicted hustler named Henry Dorsett Case, who is simply referred to as Case. He lives in a Japanese urban sprawl known as Chiba City, which is a dark and foreboding place. Case’s environment is described as “a deranged experiment in social Darwinism, designed by a bored researcher who kept one thumb permanently on the fast forward button.” (7) It is therefore apparent that Gibson’s use of description, in relation to character and setting, establish the theme of social decay. This is best observed when one examines the prevalence of severe addiction, a clear sign of social decay, as it is described throughout the book. Addiction to hard drugs and “the matrix” are a common flaw in Gibson’s characters. Setting is also another important aspect used to describe social decay. Gibson’s writing creates a very dystopian feel. His future is one where the shorelines are enveloped by “shoals of waste” looking up at a “poisoned silver sky.” (7) Moreover, description is used to show that the boundary between real and artificial

       As if life relied entirely on physical dependencies and sensory stimulation, many characters in the story are consumed by their addictions to drugs and technology. Case even notices this in his girlfriend’s eyes when he observes that they exhibit the “raw need, the hungry armature of addiction.” (8)  And yet he, just as everybody else in his society, does not seem to care much because it is considered strange to not do drugs. Drug use is an important theme in the story, as it demonstrates society’s desire for instant gratification through escapism, just as they use the “consensual hallucination” known as the matrix to escape life. Case made his living on “the matrix” before he was injured for stealing from his employers. He expresses considerable depression over this, almost as if he suffers from a permanent withdrawal symptom. The matrix is described as being an extension of his personality,