Count Zero (Sprawl, #2)

Ah, Gibson, patron saint of so many would-be-netheads. After enjoying Neuromancer so much recently, I decided to go ahead and read the two other novels in the trilogy. Definitely not the same quality as the original. Count Zero and Mona Lisa Overdrive don't have the same plot problems as Neuromancer, but he's adopted an interwoven story aspect, switching between plotlines every chapter in both novels. That drives me nuts! I can live with it, but the real criticism is that these newer novels lack the urgency, rawness, and sparkle of Neuromancer. That's ok, it's not a failure, just not the same incredibleness. I do like the overarching theme of all three novels, that we are merely puppets at the hands of Artificial Intelligences. Not even friendly AIs, but trans-godlike beings who don't really understand or care about the actions of their human creators, just use us as tools occasionally. A very dark future, much darker than the typical vision of AIs deliberately destroying humanity (a la Terminator).