The Epic Quest through Otherland

I am always searching for new metaversal fiction. I don't think I will ever stop searching for new and different media that lets me see talented creators paint worlds of technology and simulation (well, until the reality catches up with the fiction.) This search has lead me down many paths to date, but none quite as long as Tad Williams' Otherland series.

Coming in at 4 books and a total of over 3000 pages, Otherland is quite a commitment (and that's without the novella and short story in the same universe.) I'll start by saying that I enjoyed these books. These stories contain everything you need for entertaining fiction: love, conflict, combat, and haptic feedback. The common-place technology that Williams creates to flesh out his world is very believable, which is what drew me in to the first book the most. I love seeing the technological projection through the eyes of an author. As the series progresses things get a little more sophisticated, but that's some of the fun.

Though Otherland is undeniably metaversal fiction, I'm not positive it is exclusively sci fi. I think that the story feels like it could comfortably be told with magic taking the place of the tech and succeed equally effectively (in most every component.) As someone who grew up reading as much TOR fantasy as I did sci fi: this isn't meant to be a complaint. I'm only commenting because with such a large commitment being necessary, if you're looking for more Gibson-esque grit you might look elsewhere (I just read The Peripheral. It was awesome. More to come on that later.)

The story has a traditional epic feel to it, much akin to Tolkien's quests (an obvious influence.) The way Tad builds his team of protagonists is cinematic in it's approach, and I was pleasantly surprised how the pacing worked to make the high number of elements manageable. Any faster and it would have felt confusing, and slower would have dragged. Despite it's length it certainly moves along.

If you have some time, and feel like buckling up for an epic with metaverse running throughout: check out Otherland. If you're looking for cyberpunk or hard sci fi, consider looking elsewhere. If you do select Otherland, however, I doubt you'll regret it. It was an enjoyable journey through many different worlds with some wonderful surprises.

Ready. Player. One.

In case you haven’t heard the good news, let me tell you: Steven Spielberg has signed on to direct a Ready Player One movie. This could be a mixed blessing, but only because I’m hesitant to see a film adaptation of that book. Why? Because I’m not sure anything in regular 2D cinema could possibly live up to the marvelous book that is Ernie Cline’s Ready Player One.

Ready Player One hit me in such a sweet spot, I have no idea where to begin with it. If you love MMOs and progressive technology, this book is for you. If you love metaversal concepts, immersion, and technology, this book is for you. If you are an old school arcade gamer, this book is for you. And the list goes on: pen and paper roleplayer, fan of iconic 80’s films, fan of Rush, fan of anime or 80’s television. And if you’re a fan of all of them? Buckle up, my friend, because this book should probably blow your mind.

The book takes place in the future of our mundane earth, where a technology called the OASIS has been developed. Essentially a sophisticated metaverse, where people play, learn, work, and socialize. The plot centers around a young guy named Wade who dedicates himself to finding the OASIS’ ultimate easter egg, and what happens along the way.

There are so many scenes that I look forward to seeing portrayed in film. My only apprehension is I don’t know how they’ll fit that whole glorious story into only two, or even three hours. Regardless as long as Spielberg stays connected to the project and Cline is around to consult: I will be there at midnight.

Also: as a related sidenote: Cline is reportedly writing a sequel, so there’s that.

What Comes Beyond Neuromancer

Rest assured, there is more to metaversal fiction than the works of William Gibson. Not that I'm complaining about Mr Gibson's work in any way. Neuromancer and Count Zero have been two pieces of fiction that I've enjoyed very much. It has influenced my opinions on many things, biosoft/microsoft, and the origins of cyberspace. It is what allows me to enjoy Black Ice so much. It's just that I'm trying to build on continuity with my writing here, and so linear travel seemed logical.

The second of Gibson's Sprawl books is no less enjoyable than the first. It takes place after the first book, which means you get to see the fruits of Molly and Case's actions. This alone makes Count Zero a worthwhile read. The dominos were poised so perfectly at the end of Neuromancer to fall into place. What place? We had no way to know but things start to reveal themselves and it's rather rewarding. The fragments of AI and the way that they integrate to their newfound "life" are a very entertaining spin on machine sentience.

I reached a personal conclusion after my second read of Count Zero, and it's what I feel best sums up the book: it feels like the most excellent fan fiction ever. It feels as if a master fan, one with imagination and excellent wordcraft, decided to pick up the pen where Gibson left off and paint new pictures in his Sprawl world. The introspection and character definition feels good, and the world-building qualities that I enjoyed so much in Neuromancer are still there, but it feels like a love-letter to that world. Not a complaint really. I remember reading somewhere that Gibson didn't really want to continue in that world, which is why he chooses to state that Case never saw Molly again. Not sure if that's the case, but if so it makes a lot of sense to me. It's almost as if he chose to reflect on his first work in a new and different way. That's exactly what Count Zero feels like.

It you like projected future-cultures, in-orbit space travel, espionage, black ops missions, and all the biosoft goodness of Neruomancer: check out Count Zero. It is an enjoyable read, and a well told story.

Beginning at the Beginning

Fiction becomes a problem from the perspective of the reactionalist because it is, by it's very nature, a medium that requires an informed individual to read, understand, and react to it. Here is my attempt to encapsulate my reaction to Neuromancer, by William Gibson.

When Neuromancer began I was faced with a dated projection of life in our modern age. I, as a modern viewer, am able to view Gibson's writing through the lens of the modern technologist which allows a certain amount of perspective. If I were closed minded I might have used this to color his projection of modern life, but instead I noticed quite poignantly how wonderful Gibson's thoughts about modern culture would prove to be. His assessment of the modern "cowboy" tech was fascinating, which lead me into the meat of his work.

I need to comment predominantly on Gibson's origination of the "cyber-space" concept as we think of it modernly. His ideas laid the ground-work for modern metaversalism and everything that goes with it. The way that Case handles his deck is an absolute precursor to modern metaversalist fiction. The digital world that the cowboys of cyberspace spend their time in is inspirational, with their critical contact with AI's and combative defense programs laying the groundwork for Otherland's agent's and Snow Crash's antivirus software.

From the standpoints of storytelling Gibson's story has everything that a technological fiction enthusiast would want, biohacking, digital worlds, sophisticated AIs, space travel, schizophrenic team members, and lots of mind altering substances. As a fan on metaversalist fiction I have to state that William Gibson's Neuromancer is the logical starting place.