Nice addition to the Cyberpunk landscape.
590811
I just finished Ballard's novel, and felt the need to share.  Under The Amoral Bridge is a good cyberpunk novel.  In fact i would bet that Mr. Ballard has spent a night or two around the gaming table with the likes of myself planning Runs, or trying to outfox the Mega-Corps as a Solo, Runner, or Fixer.  In this novel we meet Artemis Bridge who is a fixer, or go-between.  He's the guy who knows the guy who gets you what you want or what you need.  This guy is always the sharpest guy in the room.  We all want to be this guy or least be allowed to sit at his table.  One thing leads to another, and Bridge finds himself in hot water with the local crime boss, one of the aforementioned mega-corps, and his on again off again girlfriend. This book is very reminiscent of the James Cameron movie Strange Days and Bridge seems to be cut from the same cloth as the character Lenny Nero.  In fact the bar scene tween Thanmes and Bridge seems very similar indeed to nearly the same sequence in the intro of Strange Days. That being said this is still a fun, quick, good read into the Dark Future and one that i didn't regret.

  Ballard shows us some of this dystopian world that he has built but i think pulls away a little too quickly.  We don't get that eye popping exterior shot from Blade Runner, or the port side visual from Gibson's Neuromancer with the oft quoted line about the color of the sky.  It's your world Gary but please stop teasing me!!!!  With that we do get Netrunning, we get cool cyberlimbs, including the omni-present cybershades modifications (I know you played R. Talsorian's Cyberpunk, Gary i know it!!!!)  and big meaty bad guys with a penchant for violence.  I would like to see more from the mega-corps, and give me a few more cool guns and i'm a happy 'punk.  I already bought his volume of short stories/novellas based in this world,&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Tales-from-the-Bridge-Chronicles-Volume-1/dp/B006S4IO32/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Tales from the Bridge Chronicles, Volume 1</a>&nbsp;and cannot wait to dive into it.  Excellent job Gary, well done.
2012174
In Neuromancer, Gibson paints a picture of a society connected by the "Matrix", a vast web of interconnected computer systems.  Outside of the computer network, there are areas known as the "Sprawl," areas close to the sprawl and backwoods areas.  We meet Case in a bar in one of these backwoods areas.
Case is a hacker (referred to as a cowboy in the novel) who has lost his ability to connect to the matrix as the result of a deal-gone-bad.  He is all but down and out, running drugs and other particularly risky transactions; he appears to have a death wish.
Just as he almost bottoms out, he meets Molly and Armitage who claim to be able to restore his ability to access the matrix ... In exchange for doing "a run" for them and their artificial intelligence boss.
The story meticulously weaves scenes from both the real world (as perceived by both Case and Molly) and the Matrix together to form a cohesive story.  Though confusing and slow occasionally, Gibson does a masterful job of pulling us into the story.  Though you must have some familiarity with computers and sci-fi to completely appreciate the story, it is presented in such a way that it is accessible to techie and neophyte alike.
Neuromancer is all but required reading for anyone interested in the future of the internet or the Cyberpunk genre.
4446862
This shadowrun-esque book delivers fast-paced action and interesting characters in interesting cyberpunk world. Recommended for all scifi and shadowrun fans.
4168503
Pretty good. Nice twist on the alternative world idea. Well written with interesting characters.
964035
Satirical jabs at dot-com start-ups, genehacked toys made from home kit DNA sampling, Russian beatnik rocket scientists on hallucinogens, practical applications of cyborg jellyfish, and that's just in the first three stories.

Exceptionally well written, the prose is bright and infectious - - a welcomed change from the typically dreary and violence-laden noir cyberpunk that is so predominant in the field. Inspired concepts (well researched and explored to fulfilling ends) are out-shined by the colorful characters. Rich descriptions, but not muddled by overly geekish details.

A nice touch to each story are the authors' brief notes about inspirations and their collaborating process.
527929
This is sure to appeal to programmers, tinkerers and geeks. There's not alot of character development or complexity, but the ideas are fun to kick around long after you read the last page. I look forward to the sequel.
2846730
Great imagination - good value for the price you pay, especially it you are brave enough to appreciate avant-garde sci-fi!
1561096
A nice series built on an interesting theme. The idea of von neumann machines that replicate themselves to spread through space is an old one, but this series adds a nice spin by giving each of these machines interesting human personalities, their own virtual realities, and the ability for them to talk with each other as they explore, and collaborate.
4756449
3.75

An interesting soft biopunk/cyberpunk sci-fi story with lots of twists, turns, and complex emotions. The premise reminds me a bit of Total Recall, actually. The setting of New Venice, which is really located on the island of Malta in the Mediterranean, is a fresh dystopian world I've yet to encounter in YA lit. It's really not heavy science fiction at all. So those who find the idea of reading cyberpunk an intimidating notion need not fear. The author touches lightly on explanations and the story explains itself. The main character is in a perpetual state of internally filing away information, leaving the reader clued in at all times.

If you read The Across the Universe Trilogy, then you'll appreciate some fun connections, which I won't share. I'll just leave you with that teaser... :-)

And oh my, that cover is beautiful! I must confess, that is what drew me to the story before I ever read the synopsis :-)
73782
This is a fine addition to Savage Worlds and the Suzerain product line.  Despite the initial look of it, it's not just another SW pulp setting - think "The X-Files" set in the Great Depression, and with high powered PCs who can be just as paranormal as the cases they investigate.

For my full review, see here:

[...]
523995
Code Breakers Alpha is a gripping read and a novel spin on the cyberpunk genre. Written by someone who (apparently) knows something about how computers and coding actually work, it makes a refreshing change to read a plausible extrapolation of today's technology rather than the 'science magic' we so often get. The main character Gerry is well drawn and sympathetic as are many of the surrounding characters, though notably others are rather thin (Len, I'm looking at you). The plot starts off magnificently with a great introduction to this world and the characters. It's a real page turner throughout, although things do feel rather rushed towards the end and I could have done with a bit more fleshing out of the antagonists (still not sure what the motivation of Jasper was). Overall a great read and leaving me excited to read the next book.
4787197
A nice way to show off your fanhood without being too "in your face". It adds a nice touch to the landscaping, too.
4287215
Lus latest novel creates a cyberpunk future with a massively popular game and a high-stakes plot. Warcross is the titular game that becomes so popular because of the tech it uses and the escapism it provides, that there are World Championships for which millions of people tune in. Emika is a skilled hacker/bounty hunter who uses the ubiquitous connectivity of Warcross to hunt down her targets. She glitches into a game, and instantly get entered into the Championship. But her purpose for being there is as an undercover bounty hunter, who is seeking another hacker in the game.

To understand Warcross, you have to understand how the tech works for it, and there in lies a fragment of the plot. The brain-computer interface can create endless virtual worlds, relying on neuronic impulses to create virtual images. There is also an augmented reality nature to it, as shown when the setting shifts to Tokyo, where it has been embraced fully. Emikas experience in this futuristic Tokyo is enchanting and exciting, and if you think Tokyo is magical now, wait till you see what Lu imagines for it in this novel.

Emikas entry into the Championship is not a smooth transition, as instead she has to now learn the moves of professional players and how to work in a team. She has been mostly a lone wolf since the death of her father, and her background makes her street smart and wary. As her job is essentially spying, you are constantly on the lookout for who could be the culprit. As for her boss, Hideo Tanaka, she has idolized him since she was a preteen and he was a prodigy who created Warcross. Slowly, she gets to know him on a personal level and a romance ensues. But the nature of her job and the secrecy involved means they have to hide both sides of their relationship. Nevertheless, technology comes to their rescue and allows them for a deeper understanding and constant communication with each other.

Now, as the novel is about the game, too, we do see a couple of games. The matches are immersive, and epic in nature, with entire worlds being played. Imagine Inception but with like a game of Capture the Flag. But besides the game sphere, there is also the seedy Dark Cross  the Dark Web of the game, where almost everything is available, for a price. Here is where she makes a few appearances, and it is scary how Emikas emotions make you too anxious about the place. As I said, high stakes and that is literally your virtual self here. The plot takes her across vividly imagined fantasy worlds, and the futuristic augmented Tokyo and the dreary Dark Web, and the possibilities of tech and the implications of it.

The plot weaves a hunt, a spy mission and gaming into a seamless story that entertains throughout. The pacing is good, relaxing in training sessions and other expositional parts but picking up when needed to skip ahead in the timeline. There are twists, and I could see a couple of them coming but there was a major one I did not even contemplate, even though looking back I realized how sneakily the author had placed the clues for it. The identity of Zero, though, poses a big question on the motives of the character itself, something which I am hoping will be clarified in future novels. In any case, this one is a must-read. and I already cant wait for the next!

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Penguin Group, via Netgalley.
280965
Great story that brings this techno/fantasy world to life.  Especially after a long hiatus (10+ years) from Shadowrun, of which I wasn't sure what the quality of new epub only novels would be like.
3814484
I received an advance copy of the not yet released ebook in exchange for an honest review.  As I read this, I felt like I was reading a combination of John Varley and 80's cyberpunk dystopian SF.  Werbeloff's writing style is distinct, and this is clearly him at the top of his game.  It's an interesting look at a future where exchange of body parts is common, replacement of same is also common, but the artificial replacements aren't always up to snuff.  There's also a look at societal class, with at least three distinct groups and how they interact, or don't.  A fun read that's hard to put down!
755463
Stephenson first brings to life the concept of what we now call the Metaverse here.  The story of Hiro the hacker and Y.T. the skateboarder saving the world from a babylonian meme is the backbone upon which virtual worlds such as Second Life(where one of my favorite hangouts is Mr. Lee's Greater Hong Kong sim) have laid their foundations.

Stephenson envisioned the Metaverse back in the day when no computer online speed nor graphics card nor processor could support it.  Now all are getting faster and smarter and it appears the next step will be the Star Trek Holodeck.

The story itself is good.  Hiro Protagonist is a hacker falling on hard times having to work as a Pizza Delieveryman for the mafia in a dystopic future america.  He comes across a computer Virus that not only shuts down the computer but also shuts down the User's brain.  Hiro helps a former love investigate and comes into contact with a wide range of interesting anti heores and villains.

Hiro tries to save the day with his hacker skills and his RL skills with japanese sword fighting.  He comes into a confrontation with raven the glass harpoon throwing Aluit who has a Hydrogen Bomb rigged to go off if his heart stops beating.

At least one of the characters reappears later in "The Diamond Age" as a senior citizen.

Great book for cyberpunk, post cyberpunk, steampunk, and metaverse fans.
3003163
Altered States is a cyberpunk anthology whose stories broaden the horizon of what is usually thought of as subgenre with tight borders. The fifteen stories inside range from the well-defined tropes, to the experimental, to everything in between. Nine are reprints, and six are original to this anthology. My particular favorites were:

Living in the Singularity by Tom Borthwick: the plot twist was somewhat expected but fit the story well.

Ex Machina by Cynthia Ward: combines hacking with psychology and explores the concept of collective consciousness. I didn't expect this plot twist at all, and it made for a great ending.

Extra Credit by Paul Levinson: combines cyberpunk with parallel worlds. As always, Levinson weaves a great tale from start to finish.

Attention Whore by Kerry G.S. Lipp: the most interesting story in the antho. I found it to be just as relatable to modern day as it is to a near-future cyberpunk settingand the story gave me chills.

Altered States is a great anthology to add to your collection whether you prefer cyberpunk specifically or science fiction in general. I highly recommend it.

Best to read while listening to: the soundtracks to Blade Runner and Johnny Mnemonic. Also throw some Atari Teenage Riot into the mix.