Virtual Light (Bridge Trilogy) Paperback – July 1, 1994

Will this future come to be? Given the direction we seem to be headed it’s a good book to read to prepare for a future that we have already seen happen 8n many respects. Gibson is crystal balling yet again and like his other books this is worth a read for sure.

This isn't the best William Gibson novel, but it is still an enjoyable read, and I was glad to read it again on my Kindle. The Kindle conversion appears to be just fine--unlike some eBooks, this one doesn't have anything glaringly wrong with it and it does attempt to perfectly mimic the layout of the original hardcover that sits on my shelf.Virtual Light is interesting to read today, decades after its publication. Set in San Francisco, the story centers around a bad decision made by a young courier named Chevette and the mad scramble from all sides to pursue the item she stole: a simple pair of glasses. Or are they? Telling you more might spoil the story, so I'll take a moment to mention instead that Gibson writes Virtual Light in his usual prosaic way, but it's a bit more accessible than Neuromancer. Something about the way he constructs metaphors and descriptions isn't going to be as hard to get into, and that may also be its only drawback, in that it won't be as rewarding as when, for example, Neuromancer assumes you know about Trobriand Islanders and how they change money.There's also a bit more fast action here. In Gibson's Cyberpunk San Francisco, the Golden Gate bridge was condemned, and that's when a random moment transformed it into a living community of the homeless, the outcast, and things even stranger. It's a rough world, and Gibson's weaves a microcosm of off-the-grid community that survives in spite of the technological rampancy right outside its ramshackle walls.If you're new to William Gibson's writing or to Cyberpunk fiction, Virtual Light might make a good book to get you into it. Other works of his are better for varying reasons, but I still enjoy reading this one today.

This will be brief. First, a confession: William Gibson is my favorite writer. Period. Virtual Light is yet one more masterpiece of writing where every sentence is so finely crafted that I want to read each of his books again and again.Virtual Light is the first of the bridge trilogy. It is the future. Due to quakes, the Golden Gate Bridge has become unusable. Certain people manage to break through the barriers and set up their make-shift homes on the bridge; a crazy-quilt of ramshackle structures governed by it's own unwritten rules. In this mix we have Chevette, a bicycle messenger, who launches all of the actions when she steals a pair of glasses from some drunk as an act of contemptuous revenge for his obnoxious behavior toward her while she is trying to carry out her duties as a messenger. Barry Rydell, a wannabe cop with a big heart, is also introduced and thrown into the whole chaotic mess.Gibson develops and draws some of the most interesting and exacting characters of any writer I have known. He is a true artist who draws with his pen ( or his word processor or his typewriter or whatever he uses to write with). By the time you finish reading a Gibson novel, you feel as if you really know each and every character. Few books I have ever read leave me with such distinct impressions of the characters as those I find in Gibson's novels. In addition, there is often plenty of action and violence to be found. Gibson knows how to combine action, a fascinating unique plot along with great character development. The fact that Gibson also delves into potential future trends based on current technological development simply seals the deal for me.Virtual Light is a ride worth taking for anyone interested in just plain wonderful writing, whether you're into sci-fi or dystopian futures or not. Gibson's works show you what great writing is all about and Virtual Light is great writing by anyone's measure.

This book gives us a beautiful look at an alternative world we could well have lived in. With fascinating heroes and believable villains, plus lots of innovative ideas. And humour.

No esperaba que estuviese en tan buenas condiciones, la verdad.Fue una muy agradable sorpresa. :)

I love reading W. Gibson

O mestre William Gibson mais uma vez nos abençoa com uma obra de ficção científica cyberpunk avassaladoramente maravilhosa. A construção dos personagens e a história criativa nos prende e nos enche de desejo de devorar o livro até o fim - fim este que nos deixa com aquele gostinho de "quero mais".

Read them all.