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The Peripheral

Overview

Author: William Gibson

Three-Sentence Summary

"The Peripheral" is a science fiction novel that delves into the themes of technology, time travel, and dystopia. It follows Flynne Fisher and Wilf Netherton in two different timelines; Flynne in the near future in rural America and Wilf in a farther future London post-apocalyptic world. The two timelines intersect when Flynne witnesses a crime while using a peripheral, leading to a complex narrative about power, corruption, and the potential consequences of technological advancement.

Extended Summary

"The Peripheral" starts with protagonist Flynne Fisher living in rural America in the near future where she ekes out her living by participating in beta tests for video games. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she witnesses what seems like a gruesome murder while beta testing a game. The twist is that this murder doesn’t occur in her timeline but instead takes place 70 years into her future.

In this far-future timeline lives Wilf Netherton, a publicist who works with celebrities who have been resurrected using advanced technology. When Flynne witnesses the murder of one of his clients, Wilf's narrative intertwines with hers. They discover that they can communicate across timelines using peripherals - devices that allow users to control avatars or bodies remotely.

The novel delves deep into the exploration of these two futures - one on the brink of disaster due to economic collapse and environmental degradation, and another devastated by events known as "the jackpot", which wiped out most of humanity but left behind advanced technology and an extreme wealth gap.

As they investigate the murder together from different timelines, they uncover political conspiracies involving powerful figures manipulating society from behind the scenes. Throughout their journey, Gibson explores themes such as how technology influences society, humanity's struggle for survival amidst technological advancement and societal collapse, and power dynamics in a dystopic future.

Key Points

"The Peripheral" explores the idea of a post-apocalyptic future shaped by technology, climate change, and societal collapse.
The narrative structure of the novel is complex, with two different timelines intersecting through the use of advanced technology.
The book delves into themes such as power dynamics, corruption, and societal manipulation in a dystopian future.
Notable quote: "Time travel wasn't possible without the sort of infrastructure you just couldn't hide. It was like building pyramids. People noticed."

Who Should Read

"The Peripheral" is ideal for readers who enjoy science fiction, especially those who are interested in complex narratives involving time travel and futurist technologies. Fans of dystopian fiction would also appreciate the exploration of societal collapse and post-apocalyptic scenarios. This novel will also appeal to readers who enjoy deep character development and intricate world-building.

About the Author

William Gibson is an American-Canadian speculative fiction writer and essayist widely credited with pioneering the genre known as cyberpunk. His debut novel, "Neuromancer", has had a significant impact on both literature and popular culture, predicting the rise of reality television and video games culture. He has received numerous awards for his work including Hugo Award, Nebula Award, Philip K. Dick Memorial Award among others.