Books

First US hardback edition, first printing, inscribed by the author on the title page alongside his large ink sketch of a neuron, "Wm Gibson, Atlanta '92". This Phantasia edition carries the atmospheric jacket illustration by Barclay Shaw, a frequent nominee for the Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist and recurring figure in the top ten rankings of the annual Local Poll Award for Best Artist. A landmark of modern science fiction, Neuromancer immediately defined the then-fledgling cyberpunk genre. It was first published as an Ace paperback in 1984, followed later that year by the first hardback edition, issued in London. Such is the attractiveness of the Phantasia edition that, in another inscribed copy we have handled, Gibson called it the "Deluxe" Neuromancer. This copy is one of 1,200 from the trade issue, published simultaneously with the signed limited issue of 375 copies. Octavo. Original white cloth, spine lettered in bronze, author's initials blind-stamped on front cover, buff endpapers. With dust jacket by Barclay Shaw. Light foxing to edges of cloth and leaves, contents clean; bright, unclipped jacket with gentle vertical creases on rear panel: a near-fine copy in like jacket.

"Neuromancer" by William Gibson is a seminal work in the cyberpunk genre, published in 1984. The story is set in a gritty, dystopian future where megacorporations wield immense power, and technological advancements have merged humans with computers and artificial intelligence. The protagonist, Case, is a former console cowboy—a skilled hacker—whose nervous system was damaged when he crossed a previous employer. Unable to access cyberspace (the virtual reality of the internet), he becomes a washed-up drug addict in the futuristic underworld of Chiba City, Japan. Case is approached by a mysterious employer named Armitage, who offers him a chance to regain his hacking abilities in exchange for working on a high-stakes cybercrime. Alongside Armitage, Case is joined by Molly Millions, a streetwise and augmented mercenary with retractable razor-sharp claws in her fingertips. Their mission is to infiltrate the global computer network and steal valuable data from the highly secure AI called Wintermute. As they delve deeper into the mission, they encounter various obstacles, including rival hackers, powerful corporations, and the enigmatic Tessier-Ashpool family. Throughout their journey, Gibson paints a vivid picture of a world where technology and humanity are intertwined. The novel explores the impact of artificial intelligence, the allure of cyberspace, and the consequences of a society driven by corporate greed and unchecked technological advancement. Gibson's prose is characterized by its dense and evocative descriptions of a futuristic yet gritty world, filled with neon-lit cityscapes, cybernetic enhancements, and a sense of constant flux. The narrative is fast-paced, reflecting the frenetic energy of a world where information is power and reality blurs with the virtual. "Neuromancer" not only explores the thrill of hacking and cyber warfare but also delves into philosophical themes such as the nature of identity, the fusion of man and machine, and the ethical implications of a hyper-connected society. Ultimately, the novel culminates in a mind-bending confrontation between Case, Molly, and the entities they encounter within cyberspace, raising questions about the boundaries between consciousness and artificial intelligence, and the evolution of humanity in a technologically driven world.