I really like Stephenson, but I'll confess I haven't tackled the last two books. I felt like I needed to do more weight lifting to prepare. I'm a Gibson fan too, but they're very different writers. I really liked Snow Crash. It caught me up immediately with its contention that there are four things the United States does better than any other country: movies, music, software and high-speed pizza delivery.

William Gibson's book tour

Damn. We're supposed to be having dinner with my not!mil on the day he's going to be in Cambridge. Maybe she'll cancel.

His earlier stuff was much tighter. I love his current rambling mode too, but at one point he did write books you could life with one hand.

Thanks. I'll have to look for some of his earlier stuff.

I tried rereading Snow Crash a few years ago and found it tediously smug. I think I've lost the cyberpunk love. At least, the sheen is off the rose.

I'm currently finishing up the Tad Williams cyberpunk trilogy, and it's making me like cyberpunk even less--not because of the implementation of it in the book, but just because the book is pointlessly long.

I loved the smugness of Snow Crash but The Diamond Age has replaced Joe Haldeman's The Forever War as my favorite SF book. I find Sterling less challenging that Gibson and therefore more approachable but I can still get into a Gibson book if I have enough time to read the first few chapters in one sitting. My favorite is Mona Lisa Overdrive but I almost said Islands in the Net which begs the question: What do you guys think of Bruce Sterling?

What do you guys think of Bruce Sterling?

I really liked Islands in the Net.

I also really loved some of his short stories, but his novels are less effective for me.

For cyberpunk I prefer Pat Cadigan (Synners) and Greg Bear (Queen of Angels) - both very cool books.

just because the book is pointlessly long.

I have yet to read a Tad Williams novel that doesn't suffer from this problem.

I love Stephenson. I re-read Snow Crash recently and found it not as amazing as the first time, but I'm with Laga on The Diamond Age - it is by far my favorite. More easily readable than Cryptonomicon (and without the random tangents on things such as breakfast cereal) plus, nanotechnology is my favorite weird future technology to explore. And fairy tale references are always awesome.

I also stalled on Quicksilver, however. I plan to pick it up again, someday.

Neuromancer left almost no impression on me. I plan to reread it the next time I'm entering a science fiction headspace, to see if it was just a fluke.

Yah, I read Neuromancer and Cryptonomicon and I recall enjoying the experience but I really can't remember just what exactly they were about. That's the funny thing- you guys are talking about the detailed imagery in Gibson and when I think back to Gibson I have read the imagery that comes to mind is the book covers. With Stephenson I get whole film clips of scenes from the novels running in my brain.

I just remembered that my best friend ordered us a pizza and then read the first chapter of Snow Crash out loud to us. I think everyone should start reading the book that way!

I have yet to read a Tad Williams novel that doesn't suffer from this problem.

I consider myself duly warned. I'm going to finish it because I want to know the what of the central plot device, but most of the personalities in it have had enough time to irritate me. Just tell me what the Other is, and if we've seen the last of Orlando (not sure why I want the answer to be no, but I've already decided how and everything). Everyone else can bite it, merrily.

More easily readable than Cryptonomicon (and without the random tangents on things such as breakfast cereal)

But those are the best parts!

Neuromancer left almost no impression on me.

The weird thing about it is that it's really hard to figure out any of the characters' motivations. Things just sort of happen, and you go along with it. And then it ends.