Good concept and pointless execution

books:


	• The Difference Engine (Spectra Special Editions) William Gibson Spectra, 1992 - 448 pages view larger image
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A bit challenging, lots of fun

Upon closing this book, I knew I didn't "get" everything the writers were throwing at me, but it hardly mattered. Often the central idea of these mysterious cards, their purpose and fate is lost in the wayward narrative, but the disparate elements of the story are all entertaining, thought-provoking and filled to bursting with striking detail of a believably re-imagined Nineteenth century London. There's some musings on revolution, class warfare, some hot sex filled with strange archaic outbursts, and a surprising murder or two. Yes, characters disappear after we become attached to them, only to reappear hundreds of pages later, older and unrecognizable. Yes the language (especialy as spoken by the almost too proper Victorian gentleman/scientist Mallory) might be hard to swallow, but it's all done so well that it works.

Even better is how the relatively straightforward narrative turns in the final third into a barrage of short pieces taking the forms of telegrams, letters, one-sided conversations, etc. Particularly good is the interior monolouge of the widowed Lady Byron wherein the true nature of her huband, the revered poet/prime minister is revealed. Naughty boy.

But what's the deal with that weird Lovecraftian flicker rght at the end of the books' second section, though? It set up an delicious expectation that never materialized. No matter. The oddity quotient is filled by the unexpected, mystifying and subtly menacing ending. Very cool, as was this entire book.

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Good concept and pointless execution

Like many postmodern novels, this one started with a great concept: imagine if steam and not silicon had been the conduit of our digital empowerment, and computers had taken over society back in the Victorian age. Add to this some cookie-cutter characters, cheap drama and a "complex" interlocking plot that forgets that the best part of complexity is a clear, simple motive under layers of deception, and you have four hundred pages of stuff that reads OK but is not compelling at all. I would not recommend this book to anyone. People who wish to explore Gibson should start with "Neuromancer" or "Pattern Recognition" or "Burning Chrome," and possibly end there.

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Good solid cyberpunk

This is good bedrock cyberpunk--showing a fusion of machine and man. It's also very wierd. Don't miss it.

reviews: 1, 2, 3, page 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

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