After reading the first pages of the novel Neuromancer, I instantly became intrigued by the complexity of the technology involved in this novel. The technology involved is not the only important factor because the correlation that it holds with science is also significant. The main character and narrator Case mentions another character named Julie Deane on page 12. He is 135 years old. My first question upon reading this was how was it possible for him to live that long and still live a regular life like any other forty year old? My answer came in the next line where it states that “genetic surgeons re-set the code for his DNA.” The way that technology and science can both function together to keep this man alive for so long is fascinating. In class on Thursday, we discussed that technology could be defined as something that makes something easier to do. With this definition, indeed, technology and scientific concepts have granted Julie Deane his want to live after so many years.
Another question that arose throughout the reading, was why did Case want to go look for Wage after being told that Wage wanted to kill him? (pages 17-19) After Case went to look for him, I thought about him in a new way because he had to be really brave to go out and look for Wage instead of waiting for Wage to find him or simply hiding so that he could be safe.
After several events took place such as the killing of Linda Lee and meeting of Molly, I began to understand what the conflict in this novel was going to be. Several other questions have arisen, however, like why is Molly really working for Armitrage and who is Armitrage working for? I know that this novel will be an interesting novel to read based on what I have read so far and that it will continue to generate thoughts, questions and answers in my mind as I continue to read.
I’m glad that you’re finding the book interesting thus far, Guadalupe. I’m wondering, however, if you can suss Case’s motivation for looking for Wage a bit? Thinking through why the characters do the things they do can be an important strategy for writing about literature.
While reading the novel I had a similar experience in that a number of question arose as I read. My questions were along the lines of why does Armitage give Case orders and not Armitage’s superior, when did this outbreak of hackers happen, what does the other side of the world look like, etc. Furthermore, I was also interested in some of the technological advances, especially the contraption that allowed Case to see through Molly’s eyes. Lastly, I was not as amazed by the scientific occurrences in the novel, being that they seemed simplistic or just a side note. In retrospect, my inquiries have made the novel more captivating, since they push me forward to finish the novel and see if my questions remain unanswered.