15 Sep 2010 01:32:01
It's fitting that the latest novel from the man credited with coining the word "cyberspace" is littered with references to the cyber-toys of 21st-century life.
In William Gibson's "Zero History," a thriller about the search for the designer of a mysterious, highly sought-after underground clothing brand, characters flash iPhones, do Google searches, communicate through Twitter and rely on GPS tracking devices with almost addictive fervor.
Gibson has created a world that seems futuristic yet is tinged with retro touches, including constant references to '80s pop culture, faded fashion trends and H.G. Wells fiction. It is distinctly familiar, yet somehow disorienting.
The intricate, at times confusing, story line centers on Hubertus Bigend, a wealthy, powerful — and ultimately distasteful — businessman who reels Milgrim, a recovering drug addict, and Hollis Henry, a former rock star, into his quest to secure a contract for U.S. military uniforms. Bigend also wants to track down the designer behind Gabriel Hounds, an off-market clothing line.
His pursuits put Bigend — and his increasingly reluctant recruits — at odds with a retired Special Forces officer-turned-arms dealer, leading to a highly choreographed showdown.
At its weakest, "Zero History" relies on an overly complex, less-than-compelling plot. It's difficult for anyone except the most hardcore fashionista to get excited about the search for a brand of jeans.
However, at its best, Gibson's latest work is a fascinating running commentary on a culture ruled by brand names, electronic gadgets and constant, ever-more intrusive methods of surveillance.
Like Milgrim, Gibson displays a keenly observant eye for detail and layers his novel with descriptions of iconic pop culture artifacts such as Kangol caps and B.U.M. Equipment sweat pants.
Ultimately, the dizzying ride through a landscape of label-dropping and brand names produces what one character calls "an allergy" to logos, corporate mascots and "any concentrated graphic representation of corporate identity."
Not a bad takeaway in an age when personal branding and product placement are the order of the day.
In William Gibson's "Zero History," a thriller about the search for the designer of a mysterious, highly sought-after underground clothing brand, characters flash iPhones, do Google searches, communicate through Twitter and rely on GPS tracking devices with almost addictive fervor.
Gibson has created a world that seems futuristic yet is tinged with retro touches, including constant references to '80s pop culture, faded fashion trends and H.G. Wells fiction. It is distinctly familiar, yet somehow disorienting.
The intricate, at times confusing, story line centers on Hubertus Bigend, a wealthy, powerful — and ultimately distasteful — businessman who reels Milgrim, a recovering drug addict, and Hollis Henry, a former rock star, into his quest to secure a contract for U.S. military uniforms. Bigend also wants to track down the designer behind Gabriel Hounds, an off-market clothing line.
His pursuits put Bigend — and his increasingly reluctant recruits — at odds with a retired Special Forces officer-turned-arms dealer, leading to a highly choreographed showdown.
At its weakest, "Zero History" relies on an overly complex, less-than-compelling plot. It's difficult for anyone except the most hardcore fashionista to get excited about the search for a brand of jeans.
However, at its best, Gibson's latest work is a fascinating running commentary on a culture ruled by brand names, electronic gadgets and constant, ever-more intrusive methods of surveillance.
Like Milgrim, Gibson displays a keenly observant eye for detail and layers his novel with descriptions of iconic pop culture artifacts such as Kangol caps and B.U.M. Equipment sweat pants.
Ultimately, the dizzying ride through a landscape of label-dropping and brand names produces what one character calls "an allergy" to logos, corporate mascots and "any concentrated graphic representation of corporate identity."
Not a bad takeaway in an age when personal branding and product placement are the order of the day.
