669 pages
English language
Published Nov. 9, 2011 by Thorndike Press.
"Hollis Henry worked for global marketing magnate Hubertus Bigend once before. She never meant to repeat the experience, but she's broke. Milgrim is thoroughly owned by Bigend. He's worth it for his gift of seeming to disappear in almost any setting. Garreth has a passion for extreme sports. He isn't owned by Bigend, but he has friends from whom he can call in the kinds of favors that Bigend sometimes needs. Like now, when a Department of Defense contract turns sideways and he finds himself outmaneuvered in a seriously dangerous world."--Taken from cover p. 4.
Only William Gibson could make a story about fashion industry espionage fascinating.
What are "trends", what fascinates us about them, what do we seek when we're riding a trend wave? How do we construct and what associations do we afford in our appearance, what does it signal to our peers, to those above and below us, to faceless networks?
It's the final part of the Blue Ant trilogy, again revolving around the unearthing of secret, ultra-niche trends, their microcosms and the meta-potential they hold for people like Hubertus Bigend who are keen in taming them. From the single POV of Patern Recognition to the triple intertwined stories of Spook Country, Zero History balances out with two entangled protagonists, with Hubertus Bigend as the producer/puppeteer behind it all.
A few recurring characters from the Blue Ant saga, some more central than others, it felt nice recalling their background stories when their names are revealed. Their backstories not necessary to follow Zero History …
What are "trends", what fascinates us about them, what do we seek when we're riding a trend wave? How do we construct and what associations do we afford in our appearance, what does it signal to our peers, to those above and below us, to faceless networks?
It's the final part of the Blue Ant trilogy, again revolving around the unearthing of secret, ultra-niche trends, their microcosms and the meta-potential they hold for people like Hubertus Bigend who are keen in taming them. From the single POV of Patern Recognition to the triple intertwined stories of Spook Country, Zero History balances out with two entangled protagonists, with Hubertus Bigend as the producer/puppeteer behind it all.
A few recurring characters from the Blue Ant saga, some more central than others, it felt nice recalling their background stories when their names are revealed. Their backstories not necessary to follow Zero History's arc, but adding more texture to it. Hubertus Bigend at his most involved and most vulnerable. Always at the forefront of feeling the aura of pre-emerging, sub-underground trends. He starts skidding on his schemes, on the cusp of losing control, with staggering potential looming on the other side. As with Pattern Recognition, garments play a crucial role. Both in the progress of the main story as well as the description of characters. Vivid depictions of clothes, looks, building interiors. Lucid delineations of personalities, feelings, circumstances.
Once again William Gibson gives more by telling less, by assuming as given, by leading ahead without hand-holding while I was left to fill the pieces. Gibson's writing is an acquired taste, characters talk naturally, dropping hints between the words, content with knowing his readers don't need spoonfeeding. Things happen and it was up to me to be there, in the moment, to feel and see what they were.
Great book and satisfying ending to the trilogy. Loved the plot twist at the end.
My third read. God, I love this book.
The characters are generally interesting and the story is readable, but ultimately I have been disappointed by this latest trilogy from William Gibson. I guess I was so impressed by his first cyberpunk novels that now I feel let down he's choosing to write in the present time instead of continuing speculative SF. This book is very solidly in the present or close-to-present. iPhones, twitter, macbooks; current brand-name dropping instead of interesting futuristic speculation. It's an okay story as it goes, but not what I loved about the first William Gibson books I read back when. And really, what's with the fashion obsession? Every single character in the book seems to be ridiculously interested in obscure fabrics and fashion? Just not that interesting to be and I certainly don't think the plot would have suffered for leaving out at least half of the intricate descriptions of items of clothing.
A fine ending to a trilogy. For the most part the plot revolves around Hollis returning to do "one last" job for Hubertus Bigend. Joined by Milgrim, an ex-addict with a knack for details and paranoia. Bigend is up to something big this time, ruffling feathers of some ex-military arms dealers. No one in his inner circle can be sure of their safety now. After reading this trilogy, my sense of branding and clothing industry will never be the same again. A great feat from William Gibson as far as I am concerned :-) There were times where I was shaking with the excitement, but the book didn't seem as action-packed as Spook Country or Pattern Recognition were. The ending is well-balanced though and I enjoyed it immensely. In the end everybody is waiting for the Big End.
Yes. I could read 30 more books featuring Milgrim.
As always, a huge fan of Gibson's tight prose, his eclectic vision, his ability to get to the core of social and emergent technology trends. I continue to love Hollis Henry, the former lead singer of the Curfew, and reluctant employee for Hubertus Bigend, the Belgian cool hunter and billionaire. The tabula rasa character of recovering drug addict Milgrim is delightful in his childlike way he stumbles through the espionage and double crossings. There is a great supporting cast of eccentric and fun characters to discover along the way: Heidi Hyde, former bandmate, just ending her nth marriage; Garrett, the thrill seeking, building jumping, ex-boyfriend of Hollis; Winnie the DoD Goverment agent who sets up twitter accounts to pass secret messages to Milgrim; Fiona the courier/bodyguard, charming in her affection for Milgrim. Who would think that the search for a secret brand of jeans, could be so much fun?
Wow, the first William Gibson that I have been unable to finish. Stalled with 100 pages to go.
I respect Gibson wanting to move beyond cyberpunk. But leaving behind the obsession with unique objects, while taking out all the interesting stuff, did not work for me. Unique hand-crafted cyberspace deck that a protagonist uses to live a life on the edge? Interesting. Uniquely strange diorama created by an AI in a satellite? Interesting. Unique underground brand of designer jeans? Uninteresting.
Just like the two previous books of what he calls the "Bigend Trilogy" this one is set in the present - well, actually in the very near past.
Being a total fanboy, I did read it in basically two sittings. Just like the two books before, it does end rather abruptly, though - wrapping up the story in one rather short chapter. As usual I did enjoy most of what could be considered "exposition" and description of places and people - he's much better with that than with the plot development.
In the end there are two "big" revelation which both made me groan, but maybe I'm too jaded.
It was big fun to see stuff that has been floating around the internet in the last few years randomly pop up as little beacons of Zeitgeist, so, yeah: 4 out of 5, for the general feeling of awesomeness, one redacted …
Just like the two previous books of what he calls the "Bigend Trilogy" this one is set in the present - well, actually in the very near past.
Being a total fanboy, I did read it in basically two sittings. Just like the two books before, it does end rather abruptly, though - wrapping up the story in one rather short chapter. As usual I did enjoy most of what could be considered "exposition" and description of places and people - he's much better with that than with the plot development.
In the end there are two "big" revelation which both made me groan, but maybe I'm too jaded.
It was big fun to see stuff that has been floating around the internet in the last few years randomly pop up as little beacons of Zeitgeist, so, yeah: 4 out of 5, for the general feeling of awesomeness, one redacted for the rather weak plot.
