Talk:Neuromancer

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[edit] Dystopian

I was in the audience of a talk with William Gibson, in which he mentioned that he did not (at the time, at least) consider Neuromancer to be a dystopian novel. The reason given was that contemporary, dystopian SF-literature was almost all set in post-nuclear war environments, which made Neuromancer seem optimistic as it portrayed a future where mankind was still alive and well.

Would this observation be worth including in the article?

Though cyberpunk doesn't necessarily have to be dystopic, I think it's a major attraction to the subgenre. I think given the context most dystopian sci-fi was written (the 1980's and the height of the Cold War) almost dictated it a rule that it had to be set in a pot-nuclear war environment. Neuromancer's setting was evidentally written against that trend. In today's world the threat of nuclear war is not nearly at the same level it was in the 1980's and I think it's plausible the setting could be reinterpretted to be dystopic. Though considering what Gibson has written in articles in the recent past (a couple of Wired articles come to mind) it's believable to see the world of Neuromancer to not be dystopic. Gibson Cowboy 14:44, 14 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Neuromancer and Raymond Chandler

Um, I think there are plenty of folks who see the relationship between Neuromancer's style and Chandler. Ten seconds of googling finds:

  • "Gibson is not just mildly romantic: he is deeply so, as affirmed by the continuing homage his earlier work paid to the detective fiction of Raymond Chandler " [1]
  • "Gibson’s novel has much more immediate, far more hip sources, namely, the hardboiled novels of Raymond Chandler" [2] (reviewing All Tomorrow's Parties)
  • "Gibson is a great admirer of Dashiel Hammett, though not of Raymond Chandler. The doomed love affair and mystery quest arc of the plot make clear that the novel is just as much "new-romancer" ... as "neuro-mancer"." [3]

So I think this amply supports the redacted sentence's assertion "Its is reminiscent of a 1930's noir novel in the style of Raymond Chandler, and its title might be looked upon as a pun on new romancer.". Once could argue that the sentence could say Hammett instead of Chandler, but perhaps it should say "style of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett" or perhaps "in the dark, gritty style of Raymond Chandler and Dashiel Hammett.". Comments? -- Finlay McWalter 22:14, 17 Dec 2003 (UTC)

I agree on the veracity of your sources. But have you really read any part of Neuromancer and thought that sounds like Hammett? A use of a sparse 'angular' style doesn't make it a homage, there is no use of the complex plotting, first person styles and other marks of classic noir. And I must say to read "new-romancer" out of Neuromancer is just perverse - what kind of pun is that? You can draw on much clearer and more relevant source words in the title. TwoOneTwo 12:38, 19 Dec 2003 (UTC)
"The sky was the colour of a television tuned to a dead channel". Ugh, that's sub-chandler - it sounds like Mikey Spillaine :) -- Finlay McWalter 12:51, 19 Dec 2003 (UTC)
"there is no use of the complex plotting, first person styles and other marks of classic noir." I fear this is largely because Gibson is crap at plot and worse at character. The "find the Cornell box" thing is a lot like The Maltese Falcon (eccentric millionaire tasks down-at-heel detective to find apparently valueless object, but has sinister ulterior motives. Meanwhile, shady lady is both friend and enemy.). -- Finlay McWalter 13:05, 19 Dec 2003 (UTC)
You seem to have defeated your own argument! ;) It is certainly not a clear transference and, IMHO, including this tenuous relationship is not useful. And I shudder at that "new-romancer" thing, if you must restore the sentence, please don't include that! TwoOneTwo 00:16, 20 Dec 2003 (UTC)

[edit] Radio Version

There was a radio play based on Neuromancer on BBC World Service in October 2005 in the Play of the Week slot. Perhaps this should be added to the translations list.--Zoltar Jackal 15:23, July 26, 2005 (UTC)

Rather to Adaptation section, IMHO. Here's info I found about BBC radio version of Neuromancer:
(main source: http://wordaloud.dnsalias.com/wordaloud/main.asp?Action=RDDisplay&DID=8421 )

Cast:


All the best for cyberpunk fans --83.31.117.8 14:30, 29 July 2006 (UTC)mattness pl (Poland) http://shadowrun.rpg.pl

[edit] Comic

There was a comic adaptation published by Eclipse, shouldn't it be included in Adaptations? Tried to do so, but my contribution was deleted.

[edit] The Matrix

I suppose the Wachowski brothers had influence from this novel in creating their own complex story.

I would say their story is rather simplistic, but that is probably just me ;P --Lost Goblin 02:53, 5 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Music?

Wasn't there a section devoted to music that had been inspired by Neuromancer? I could've seen it in another article I suppose. -fs

[edit] Beyond 2000

The main page now meentions an episode of "the American version of Beyond 2000" that seems to have some sort of interview about an second cancelled remake of the Neuromancer game. Explanations as to the details or name of the episode, or to the show itself if it has a different name, or most especially to where this can be seen, would be a great contribution. As it is, most webpages that seem to indicate that they sell copies of the show, do not do so.

[edit] Armitage

I wonder if his real name is somehow related to the man known as Willis Carto. It might be a mere conicidence, but somehow I'm not convinced it is. --JollyRogerz 01:45, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Inspiration for the creation of the Internet?

Regarding this recent edit: I'm not sure I understand how Neuromancer can be said to be the inspiration for the creation of the Internet, since the Internet had already been around for a pretty long time before the publishing of Neuromancer. – Mipadi 00:11, 13 December 2006 (UTC)

The edit is not too clear, but it seems to suggest that the writing (as opposed to publishing) of Neuromancer somehow called the Internet into being--January 1, 1983 sometimes being considered the birthdate of the Internet. This idea might be a little too mystical for the article; in any case, it should be spelled out a bit more or deleted. Nareek 01:41, 13 December 2006 (UTC)
It seems a bit of a stretch to say that the Internet popped into being in January 1, 1983; at any rate, the concept of such a network was definitely conceived long before Neuromancer. I'm suspicious of this edit. – Mipadi 09:00, 13 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Tiesser - Ashpool

300 years old? Any reference for that? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 83.25.251.110 (talk) 19:07, 6 February 2007 (UTC).

There isn't a reference because it isn't accurate. In the book, the only real claim to his age is when he says he's "over 200". Rnb 03:46, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] The Snake-Armitage link

It's sourced now and the reference is apparent, but only to what Gibson himself described as a throwaway line in the movie. I think it'd be giving readers a false view of the magnitude of link involved to say Armitage is based on Plissken. Certainly, it's not the only inspiration. --Agamemnon2 14:49, 28 February 2007 (UTC)

Actually, the "throwaway line" may have inspired the Screaming Fist military operation in Neuromancer but I recall seeing Gibson at a book signing for "Mona Lisa Overdrive" where he said that it was Lee Van Cleef's character (Commissioner Hauk) who inspired Armitage. As for direct parallels between the two characters I can only point to the fact that they both wear a single earring. Not much! -216.80.66.128 03:47, 23 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Brazilian release cover in infobox?

Why is this in the infobox, this is the English article of the book. Also the first edition paperback cover was in it why was it removed? As well when you click on the so called "Brizilian book cover" image its file name is "Neuromance british cover" whats with that? Alus 04:24, 20 April 2007 (UTC)

I uploaded and named the image before discovering it was the Brazilian cover. I don't know how to change the filename, please feel free to do so.Skomorokh 16:16, 20 April 2007 (UTC)
Okay I do not think you can change the name of the file that you uploaded you have to reupload it. I just do not really think it is the appropriate cover to have in the infobox of the English article. And since the first edition cover is already uploaded I will place that in the infobox thanks for responding. Alus 16:57, 20 April 2007 (UTC)
Fair enough.Skomorokh 19:01, 20 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Freeside's Shape

The descriptions given for the Freeside's shape throughout the novel seem at first to vary quite a bit. This has caused some confusion and has created a few errors in other wiki articles, notably Stanford torus. I believe the majority of the confusion arises from the passage: 'The islands. Torus, spindle, cluster. Human DNA spreading out from gravity's steep well like an oilslick.' the distinction is somewhat cleared up in the next paragraph: 'Call up a graphics display that grossly simplifies the ex-change of data in the L-5 archipelago.' What's being described here is not Freeside by itself, but rather a collection of habitats within the fifth Lagrange Point. The Torus being Zion, the Spindle being Freeside and an unnamed cluster of other stations. 76.48.58.111 06:29, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Fair use rationale for Image:Neuromancer 20th Anniversary Edition.jpg

Image:Neuromancer 20th Anniversary Edition.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in Wikipedia articles constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.BetacommandBot 17:05, 4 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Fair use rationale for Image:Neuromance british cover.jpg

Image:Neuromance british cover.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in Wikipedia articles constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.BetacommandBot 17:05, 4 June 2007 (UTC)

Fixed, the image now has a fair use rationale. Nihiltres(t.c.s) 20:46, 9 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Criticism of Gibson for writing Neuromancer out of ignorance?

I know I've read an article or two that mentioned Gibson knew virtually nothing about computers when he wrote Neuromancer, and a percentage of his readership was upset about that, viewing it as a kind of betrayal. The man who had created such a unique vision of a cyberspace-entangled future wrote the story on a manual typewriter. Would this be worth mentioning if a reliable source can be found? It's the most frequent criticism of the book I've encountered. --134.131.125.49 19:25, 11 June 2007 (UTC)

It is a little disappointing that Gibson isn't (or wasn't) more interested in computers than that, compared to, say, Bruce Sterling. I've also read that while most of the world was getting connected to Internet during the 90's, Gibson still had no access. On the other hand, I think this is what might have helped him create his unique vision. What he knew of computers and technology was somewhat shallow, but he was able to take that and combine it with his imagination to create the cyberpunk style which we all love. //Kada, 6 August 2007
Gibson didn't write Neuromancer "out of ignorance", as this is a work of fiction. Please keep two things in mind: 1) many of the greatest ideas and inventions were made by people outside of their field of interest, and 2) when asked where these ideas originate, writers often speak of or allude to a muse, mindstream, dreams, or the logos, in much the same way that Plato writes on the theory of forms. The mind of a writer, when relaxed but focused, can access ideas that are accessible to everyone, but it is the writer who "captures" these concepts and manifests them in the physical world. If you ever have the chance to listen to a writer speak about their craft, you get the idea that they are merely conduits, empty vessels that are filled with knowledge that they cannot claim as their own. This may sound bizarre to some, and insane to others, but I encourage you to look into the fact of the matter for yourself. —Viriditas | Talk 08:34, 17 January 2008 (UTC)