minzzi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This book was ok. The writing is just the way I like it, kinda poetic/metaphorical and not a lot of exposition. I also liked that, even though It's a book about computers and hackers, the narrative was more fantastical than hardcore sci-fi and the plot is very easy to follow.
The characters, on the other hand... The main cast is fine (I am biased towards asshole protagonists after all) and so is Wintermute, but some of the side characters felt like just huge racial steriotypes to me and I couldn't concentrate in some parts because of how bad it was.
This book also falls into that old tale of "female character suffers sexual related trauma, but it's ok because she is a badass warrior" and I hate that so much.
The characters, on the other hand... The main cast is fine (I am biased towards asshole protagonists after all) and so is Wintermute, but some of the side characters felt like just huge racial steriotypes to me and I couldn't concentrate in some parts because of how bad it was.
This book also falls into that old tale of "female character suffers sexual related trauma, but it's ok because she is a badass warrior" and I hate that so much.
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Sexual violence, Murder, Sexual content, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Violence
sarah984's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is definitely a foundational work in the genre and the descriptions are lush and amazing. I love reading older sci-fi for the kind of grimy analog futurism and no one does that like Gibson. However, the main character is kind of pathetic and weird, the women feel like props, and the characters of colour are embarrassing.
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Sexual content, Addiction, Body horror, Gun violence, Violence, War, Murder, Alcohol, Death, Drug abuse, Medical content, and Misogyny
Minor: Ableism, Incest, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, and Rape
dargent94's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Suicide
Moderate: Blood, Chronic illness, and Cursing
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