Neuromancer by William Gibson (1984, ISBN 0-441-56959-5)

This is the first part (of three) of what became known as the Sprawl series. I am not sure but this novel may have introduced the term cyberpunk.

I have been hearing about this novel for years and I decided to read it (probably around 2006) but have just now read it.

I enjoyed the book, but some of the imagery was difficult. The story involves a small number of people who go on a quest, but the objective of the quest is hidden from them and the reader until the end. The main character Case was someone who could enter into computers and somehow get them to do things or reveal things. It wasn't clear to me if he did this with programs or what he used.

I didn't like the drug references in the novel. Since this novel was written some of the futuristic ideas seem less futuristic. While "Big Data" and AI will probably come to have a large affect on our lives it seems unlikely to me that they will be free to roam around "cyberspace" doing what they want, more likely is that they will be tools used by corporations to control people.

The vision of the future presented in the novel is dystopian.

Purchased probably at Powell's books sometime in 2006 for 7.99$

Gates of Stone by Angus Macallan (aka Angus Donald) (2019, ISBN 978-0-4514-9027-8) Subtitled- A Lord of the Islands Novel.

This is a fantasy novel that takes place in alternate version of Asia. Most of the action takes place in an area that might be similar to Java sea. The characters move about on foot or in sailing ships. They fight with swords and muskets and sometimes cannons. Magic is present and some characters can do magical things. There are several threads of story line that are followed in alternate chapters until the end when several of the threads merge. While the stories are concluded there is much more to be told and so this novel may be the first of a series.

Received as Christmas present 2019 (purchased at Powells books for 16.00$ on 2019-12-23.)

Empire Of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio (2018, ISBN 978-0-7564-1301-9) Book One of the Sun Eater Series.

Fantasy Science Fiction. About a human empire 17,000 years in the future. Sort of like Roman Empire meets Star Wars. Some have compared it to Dune.

I found it easy to read, well written.

Received as Christmas present 2019 (was purchased at Powells books for 8.99$ on 2019-12-23.)