My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I wish I had read this book back in the 80s or early 90s. So much of what is created here is now mainstream for action and sci-fi works of today. The Matrix, Johnny Mnemonic, Dollhouse, etc. It came after Blade Runner (he supposedly saw the film while he was writing the novel), but some of the themes had to have been independently developed.

At the time, it was revolutionary, presaging the interconnected world we live in. Reading it today, it’s a little hard to see it as unique and any of the tech suspense is ruined in that the technology that would have blown my mind in ‘84 is now commonplace or replaced. Also, I’ve lost most of my interest in pure science fiction, looking more for character studies and emotional journeys.

Needless to say, this is a book you should have on your shelf, and you should get around to reading it someday.