Rating: 
Summary: Pattern Unrecognized
Review: WILLIAM GIBSON, PATTERN RECOGNITION In spite of all the rave reviews for PATTERN RECOGNITION, the reader must slog through this masterpiece, looking up many words like "apophenia" along the way. It probably should have included a book end glossary to unravel the London-Tokyo-Moscow lingo that seemed essential to characters who seemed to stay in perpetual trans-oceanic motion. Gibson must have written this novel while on vacation from such engaging titles as BURNING CHROME, COUNT ZERO AND ATP. What has he written? This is a long drawn out memorium to a fragile, bleating, female character who can't get over her dad's disappearance. So easy had she had a body to sob over, but no such luck. Cayce Pollard, named for the psychic Edgar Cayce, is a savant with great talents in the obsessive field of advertising logos. But this came attached with phobias that threatened both her sanity and freedom. Did Gibson pick a character who could sustain the readers interest for 300 pages? Compared, for example, to J.K. Toole's Ignatius Reilly in A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES, Cayce is just too, too tame for the assigned task. The answer to this character study must be a resounding NO!
Rating: 
Summary: Gibson Shines
Review: Gibson's past books have been very techno heavy - so much so that they have overshadowed his skills as a great writer of fiction. Pattern recognition is his first book that is accessible to the casual reader. As a result I was blown away with his abilities as a writer - the description of places and people was incredible. This is Gibson taken to a new level.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the Best
Review: I am not a science fiction guy and would probably have not picked this up if I knew science fiction writers and recognized the author's name. However, once I started reading this book, I could not put it down. Here is a fresh story, captivatingly told, skillfully plotted, and combining modernistic touches with a classical story line.
This book really enchanted me and was some of the best writing I have read in quite a while. Excellent for the non-science fiction buff who wants to try something a little out of the ordinary.
Rating:
Summary: Definately Gibson, but very different
Review: This is an abstract book that tells it's story through concepts and notions instead of standard story telling. I loved it, but my girlfriend didn't really get it. Gibson's writing style has definately matured, but the story doesn't have the enthusiasm as Neuromancer.
Rating: 
Summary: End not worth the journey
Review: I must admit that I was lured into the story line by the first fifty pages. Gibson sets up an intriguing enough mystery around the main plot that you want to read on. I must agree whole heartedly with other reviewers though that proclaim "that was it?!?" at the end. There is no climax. The reason for the "footage" leaves you completely unsatisfied. There is no conflict resolved or insight gained. The biggest payoff is getting a bunch of the books web forum posters to meet in the books "real life" (didn't some of us get over this experience ten years ago at our local BBS first "night-out"? i guarantee the story was as climactic as that evenings). Many times, a great journey is worth a bad ending (read: any Neal Stephenson novel...) but his commentary on present day locales like London, Tokyo, and Russian must seem cliche and unsatisfying to anyone who has actually stepped foot outside of the united states a few times (spring break in Mexico not included - sorry folks). Wait for it on video.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting but sort of empty
Review: Are cool hunters still interesting? Why are the trade centers in this book? Why so many brands? Why is he obsessed with Mac laptops and Prada? Why is the Michelin man logo demonized? This book seemed very dated and rather forced. I was in NY for 9/11, and it did really suck. But yeesh, why it was in this book is beyond me. And why Tokyo? And why Russia? Must every thing or concept or place deemed cool by Matrix fans be shoved into one book? What has science fiction come to when marketing and marketers and advertising execs are seen as the big brains, the visionaries, in our world. It's sort of depressing. And the characters were pretty flat, and the plot was jumpy. Frankly, the brands had more character than the people. I have an entirely new appreciation for Prada now. Get this book out of the library--rebel against the brand formerly known as William Gibson (I think he's wearing Prada -- hisssss -- in the author photo). Sure, read it, but don't buy it. Boycott it! Maybe he'll write a better book.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable...until the end
Review: Just finished William Gibson's latest book: Pattern Recognition. It was better than I expected it to be, but I still found it to be a weak book badly in need of a critical editor. Initially it seems to recaptures the edge that he had with Neuromancer and Mona Lisa Overdrive, and seemed to have lost with Idoru and subsequent offerings, but like his last few offerings, the ending is weak and incomplete, the subplot just disappears, and the wrap-up just leaves the reader annoyed by it's simplistic made-for-Hollywood happy ending. I found myself rereading the final two chapters...convinced I'd missed something...because *that* couldn't have been how it ended...but alas, it was. Unlike previous books, which are set in futuristic settings, this one is set in the present and has no tech that doesn't actually exist...which lends the book a verisimilitude of reality...but, story elements that might pass easily enough in a world of the not-too-distant future ring false in this version of the present, where the comparison to what actually *is* is constantly invited. Likewise, the introduction of September 11th is forced and suspect. The central theme is branding, the influence brands have on our world, their strange, hybrid status of material property and tribal marking. The quest is for the maker of a series of footage clips which appear on the net and create an instant subculture of people trying to make sense of the clips. The book moves quickly through the environs of New York, London and Moscow as the primary character seeks to find the makers, using the money and technology of the owner of a major ad agency. As usual, Gibson's prose is brilliant...but the darkness that was such a huge part of his work in the 80's is completely gone...as though he's trying to write through the haze of force-fed Prozac. But then, I could still be annoyed at the end, which in my opinion, was in dire need of some serious rewrite and editing work. That being said, it was still an enjoyable way to spend 4 of 5 hours, even with the disappointment of the final 15 minutes. I would recommend checking this one out from the library, rather than purchasing it...because I'm not sure it deserves a second read.
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Summary: This is the best thing he's written in the last 10 years
Review: Sterling and Stephenson are still out front, but at least he's in the pack once again. Perhaps Gibson's finally sensing his mortality, and realizing that all the articles and speeches he earns a living from won't make the slightest difference after he's dead. His books, however, have a shot at propelling him to immortality, and that's where he needs to spend his energy.
Rating:
Summary: Twists inside the brand
Review: I still remember stepping into the world created by Gibson in "The Neuromancer" many, many years ago. Yes, I am dating myself. He had a wonderful new world to explore with silicon in your blood stream. The technology of today is much more advanced and William Gibson is more than keeping up. He gets us inside the world where making the brand is king today. A commodity won't achieve high sales unless properly branded. Management of the brand is crucial. Cayce Pollard is one of the most sought after brand consultants in the world. She finds herself trying to make sense of the post 9/11 world, looking for her father, and deciphering a cryptic internet message. The twists will keep you turning the pages. Fasten your seatbelt for quite a ride. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Your basic Gibson work
Review: While much has been made of this book's supposed departure from the author's usual genre, it's basically just another Gibson novel. Gibson repeats his tendency to come up with truly unique characters and really fascinating ideas, explore them very cleverly for a while, and then quit the book without bringing them to any satisfying conclusion.
Some people forgive this more easily than others, so I guess the bottom line is, Gibson fans will likely enjoy this book; people who've found any of his previous books disappointing will not be encouraged by this one.
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