Neuromancer
I first read Neuromancer by William Gibson when I was around 15 years old. It had been recommended by father's colleague who knew I had similar tastes in science fiction as him. I think I even borrowed it from him, for that matter. He was correct in thinking that I would enjoy it.
I remember thinking that the main character, Case, was pretty cool, and seemed mature at the time, even if he made some dumb decisions. I remember feeling ambivalent about Molly, and liking Dixie Flatline. I didn't really remember any of the other characters.
I recently finished re-reading Neuromancer, this time at the age of 40. It's only the second time I've read it, despite liking it. Probably because I didn't get around to getting my own copy of it for a long time, and even once I did, it sat around, because I always have a large stack of new books to read. I just decided that it was what I wanted to read right now. It's still good. And I take away very different things now than I did when I was 15.
First thing I noticed was that thanks to my memory of the character, I was surprised to discover in the first chapter that Case was only 24. By the time I got to the end of the chapter, I was no longer surprised the character was 24, but he definitely didn't seem cool and mature to me. To my 40-year-old sensibilities, he now seems very immature and emotionally stunted. Based on his background, that fit the character. But I see how my 15-year-old self got that impression. Basically, Gibson wrote a believable 24-year-old. Kudos to him!
I also had a very different opinion of Molly. In some ways, I appreciate her more. In other ways I roll my eyes over her portrayal. The latter mostly over the very male way of writing a female character...
Dixie Flatline is still fun, though. Not a good person, but an interesting character. Though speaking of Dixie, the other thing that struck me is how, outside of getting the Dixie Flatline construct, Case never actually did any real hacking. He was just an interface for Dixie, who directed the Kuang virus. In other words, Case was basically a script-kiddie.
I also discovered that I was disappointed that I hadn't remembered Maelcum and the other Zionists. They were fun.
All in all, I'm impressed that William Gibson wrote a novel that spoke to me in different ways that still worked as both a 15 year old and a 40 year old. And despite the novel having been written over 30 years ago, it mostly still holds up well.
I remember thinking that the main character, Case, was pretty cool, and seemed mature at the time, even if he made some dumb decisions. I remember feeling ambivalent about Molly, and liking Dixie Flatline. I didn't really remember any of the other characters.
I recently finished re-reading Neuromancer, this time at the age of 40. It's only the second time I've read it, despite liking it. Probably because I didn't get around to getting my own copy of it for a long time, and even once I did, it sat around, because I always have a large stack of new books to read. I just decided that it was what I wanted to read right now. It's still good. And I take away very different things now than I did when I was 15.
First thing I noticed was that thanks to my memory of the character, I was surprised to discover in the first chapter that Case was only 24. By the time I got to the end of the chapter, I was no longer surprised the character was 24, but he definitely didn't seem cool and mature to me. To my 40-year-old sensibilities, he now seems very immature and emotionally stunted. Based on his background, that fit the character. But I see how my 15-year-old self got that impression. Basically, Gibson wrote a believable 24-year-old. Kudos to him!
I also had a very different opinion of Molly. In some ways, I appreciate her more. In other ways I roll my eyes over her portrayal. The latter mostly over the very male way of writing a female character...
Dixie Flatline is still fun, though. Not a good person, but an interesting character. Though speaking of Dixie, the other thing that struck me is how, outside of getting the Dixie Flatline construct, Case never actually did any real hacking. He was just an interface for Dixie, who directed the Kuang virus. In other words, Case was basically a script-kiddie.
I also discovered that I was disappointed that I hadn't remembered Maelcum and the other Zionists. They were fun.
All in all, I'm impressed that William Gibson wrote a novel that spoke to me in different ways that still worked as both a 15 year old and a 40 year old. And despite the novel having been written over 30 years ago, it mostly still holds up well.