A sub-standard sequel to "Pattern Recognition"

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	• Spook Country William Gibson Berkley Trade, 2008 - 384 pages average customer review:based on 134 reviews view larger image
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Solid Performance

As always, Gibson performs wonderfully in this novel.

This novel seemed almost a suspense, almost a mystery, almost something. It was not action packed as so many cyberpunk fans demand, it is instead more poetic than that. It reminded me in many ways of the very early short stories by Gibson.

Some have suggested that the story is fragmented, and ends abruptly, and I agree, but I instead say that this is exactly what makes this story stand above the rest. When it comes together, it's beautiful, like watching a stained glass window being created from many different types of glass.

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A sub-standard sequel to "Pattern Recognition"

Someone must have told William Gibson that it would be a great idea to write a sequel to his brilliant "Pattern Recognition." I can hear the publishers now: "Use some of the same characters, but make it something thrilling. Something we can sell to Hollywood."
Bad idea. Gibson, who really produced the book of the year with 2006's "Pattern Recognition," just falls down on the job here. The hilariously named Hubertus Bigend reprises as the Donald Trump of the fictional world, owning and buying everything worth having. For his foil, we have former rock star Hollis Henry, instead of Cayce, the cool hunter of "Pattern Recognition." Henry is a poor stand-in, seemingly lacking in motivation to do much of anything and not anywhere near as intelligent as Cayce
She, a strange little Cuban crime family in New York City, Bigend and his conglomerate Blue Ant, a wacko agent (who may or may not be employed by the U.S. government), geeky "locative artists" who place virtual-reality art in public places, and a whole lot of money come together in Vancouver for a strange techo-thriller. It's actually pretty low on the thrills and high on arcane techno-babble that's largely unnecessary. Bigend is wasted as he drifts in and out of the story, and Hollis doesn't do more than stand in as the reader, watching all this strangeness take place.
I kept waiting for the sharp storytelling and intricate placement of plot points that marked "Pattern Recognition," and never found it.
Gibson's still a fine writer, hence the three stars, but only a fan of his would really want to finish this oddly trite espionage adventure.
Anyone expected science fiction can look elsewhere. Gibson seems to have given up on the future--and judging from his interview on this site, it seems to be for good reason.

Lynn Voedisch, author of "Excited Light"

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Not for me...

No dobt that Mr. Gibson can write (thus the 3 stars), I just could not get into the story. I need a little more action, and not so much introspection. I may try Pattern Recognition, I hear it is better?

reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, page 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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