Count Zero (Sprawl Trilogy)

Count Zero is a worthy sequel to "Neuromancer", and is one of those rare works (with its siblings) that seems almost (but not quite) prophetic. Gibson's world is similar to ours in oh so many ways, and the corollaries between the Internet of today and his vision of cyberspace in 1987 are astonishing. One has to wonder if the names of the nations/corporations were just changed a bit, and the dates were just shifted a bit into the future...whether we are getting closer to Gibson's grim and dystopian future? (So maybe it is prophetic after all?)This book is really about introducing "The Count" himself, and describing the events that shaped him for the concluding book of this trilogy: "Mona Lisa Overdrive". The world is fleshed out a bit, and the reader is treated to the unending complexity of Gibson's world. This, like the other two books in the series are fascinating and in many ways plausible look at how the world _might_ end up. Although this truly is a setup book, don't let that dissuade you, the characters are awesome, and the story is engaging.I recall reading this years ago, perhaps about the time it appeared on the bookshelves the first time, and being fascinated with it. Now, with 25+ years between its' publishing and today, it still manages to capture my attention and interest. Gibson is one of those writers who can write stories about characters and technology in such a way that while central to the story the technology doesn't overwhelm the characters and is abstract enough that even 25 years after he penned the book, it doesn't feel dated or implausible, just different.In this, "Neuromancer" "Count Zero" & "Mona Lisa Overdrive" remind me of E.E. "Doc" Smith's Lensman Novels where starships are flown with banks of Levers, Valves and Inertial Navigation systems, or even the great Isaac Asimov's Foundation books, where "Atomics" rule the day. Even though the technology in their works is dated or even absurd, the stories still stand and are considered classics. So too "Neuromancer", "Count Zero" & "Mona Lisa Overdrive" where I think you'll find that the concept of a [Cyber] Deck isn't so far different from modern tablets, cell phones & PC's after all...and Cyberspace absolutely reeks of the modern Internet (aka Cyberspace!). Even without that easy correlation however, like Asimov & Smith, Gibson's books are bonified classics.On top of that, "Neuromancer", "Count Zero" & "Mona Lisa Overdrive" are THE books that began the entire Cyberpunk genre/meme. How cool is that?"Count Zero" is a book I consider a staple of my collection of great Science Fiction. For me, it and its' siblings stand proudly among my collection of Asimov, Foster, Anderson, Anthony, Pohl, Banks, Bova, Smith, Heinlein, Dickson and many others.

As the sequel to Gibson's seminal Neuromancer I knew what I was getting in to when I began this book but I have to admit the first third of the book almost lost me as it was introducing a set of almost entirely new characters and premises. However, about halfway through the story opens up and makes a huge connection to Neuromancer and boy was I glad I made it through. Once this story hits it's strange Voodoo infected, cyberspace running stride you won't want to put it down until all the mysteries have been solved and everyone's fates sealed.Highlights- people so rich they have tranceded humanity, the titular Count Zero is an excellent everyman kind of character that makes the story easy to follow - for the first half of the book he's as confused as I was and it works perfectlyVoodoo in my cyberpunk? Yes, pleaseLowlights-It's heady and dense and honestly I already know I have to read it again to truly sus out the finer plot detailsThere's a weird few moments of lust from and older man to a 17 year old- but it's pretty easy to ignore

Well written sci-fi. If you like your sci-fi more science than fantasy this is it with a bit of dystopia.

The series that started it all, is still the best

I'm reading the Sprawl Trilogy from a writer's perspective--I'm trying to figure out Gibson's style. I've finished book 2 "Count Zero" and I think I can better analyze it now. . .Imagine Hemingway writing SF. That might be a decent approximation to what Gibson is doing. Minimalist. Hemingway could write the bare minimum describing a cloudless sky in a hot desert in a way that would make you imagine a hawk screeching overhead without him actually writing it. That is a mastery of the art. The problem is when you try to do that with science fiction you leave the reader high and dry. We KNOW about skies, deserts, and the hawk not written about but we've never ventured into Gibson's "matrix" or his imagined world of internet voodoo gods so. . .how the hell is a reader supposed to fill in the blanks Hemingway-style?My take is that science fiction, more than just about any other genera, demands description especially when the writer takes you on a ride to completely uncharted territories--which is exactly the case when you're writing about cyberspace. Gibson at once leaves too much to the imagination but demands that you remember the most inconsequential detail barely mentioned 60 pages earlier for the impending plot twist to make sense. Contrast this style with somebody from the opposite end of the spectrum, like Dan Simmons.While Gibson leaves nearly the entire burgeoning internet to your imagination Simmons spends tens of pages describing the worlds of "Hyperion" that you've never been to and have never seen. I prefer Simmons' style to Gibson in the realm of science fiction. I come here to see things I've never seen before, not to be told "go figure it out for yourself." Heck, I was doing that anyway before I picked up the Sprawl Trilogy.So Count Zero is a good read even though it is not my style. Maybe it's yours. You decide.Bobby Newmark, a.k.a. Count Zero comes off appropriately like a teenage little puke. His character arc is. . .developed, I suppose. He's hired for his hacking "cowboy" expertise and his big scene amounts almost to just being in the right place at the right time (again with the minimalist approach). I was hoping for a little more action.Turner is a good bad ass--a real bounty hunter/rogue Special Forces/007 type. He kicks ass when required and ends the book as just a tiny bit of a softie. SPOILER ALERT! He's a daddy and you're supposed to remember waaaaaay back 120 pages earlier he had a one night stand (you figure his character has had many, but this isn't that kind of book) with a third tier character who steps on the stage, fools around, and then leaves. Then at the end of the book in the epilogue he’s a daddy. The End. Huh? Yeah. Good night.I mean the plot is decent, the characters aren't exactly cardboard cutouts. They live and breathe somewhat. And the story travels along. I suppose Gibson's greatness is in his ability to make you anticipate. . .something. The internet is apparently crawling with voodoo gods from the union of Neuromancer and Wintermute from the previous book but you barely see them. In fact, they're really only hinted at. As a reader, wouldn't you really want to get into what the hell these internet voodoo gods are? How they act? Get under their skin? I was hoping to at least meet them man-to-cybergod. Well, you won't get much of that here.Gibson is all anticipation and not so much satisfaction. All tease and really little pay off.You'll like Gibson if you like to be teased but without much fulfillment. He's a master at that. So, yeah, he has a following. And massive awards.But I'm looking for a different style.

Great book

… cyberspace, artificial intelligence, zaibatusus battling each other.That moment one realises the connection to Neuromancer is cool.I read it twice already and will again.

potrebbe piacere solo a chi ha la passione per gli eventi del futuro, ma william gibson è stato un veggente in romanzo, scritto prima che www. esistesse

If you are familiar with William Gibson's work you will be right at home, it's an easy read, with complicated language, interesting characters and situations.

Mille excuses! Bien reçu!JLB