"Burning Chrome" by William Gibson was extremely
fascinating to me in more ways than one. There is a lot of cyber elements that come
into play in the story. Another thing that got me interested was the fact that
it also has traces of romance in it as well with Bobby and Rikki. When I was
finished with the story, the vibe I got from Bobby and Jack were positive. Jack
was the sensible one and Bobby was the brasher and wild one, and I think they
complement each other very well. To me they seemed to do no harm, even though
they were hackers and in this world we associate hacking with harm and theft,
Bobby and Jack were not (to me) malicious and out to steal every ones bank
account, but instead stealing money from Chrome; who is the true bad person
here. I also got a sense of betrayal from Rikki to both Bobby and Jack but
Bobby took it a little harsher. Rikki turned out to be a double crosser;
working for a program with ties to Chrome but at the same time pretending to be
with Bobby and Jack. This is a huge let down for Bobby who was growing fond of
her at a rapid rate. Rikki uses the money she (technically Bobby and Jack)
stole to but herself “eyes"? I am not quite sure what the connection is
between her and the "eyes" she purchased. But I feel the world Gibson
is trying to foresee is a vain one, a world where people will do anything; even
if it means compromising your morale to look picture perfect. All in all the
ending is sad because Rikki and Bobby don't come together and she stole from
them (the good guys) which doesn't always leave a good taste in your
mouth.
"Computer Friendly" by
Eileen Gunn was very enjoyable because it told the story from a perspective
completely different; a seven-year-old girl. I think she chose to write using
this angle was because this was a new setting we (the reader) are learning
about. Instead of using an adult and having the adult just throw you into the
scenario, little kids her age are very well known to ask many questions so I
think Eileen uses a seven-year-olds point of view to purposefully make you ask
those questions then and there compared to what seems to be the usual; you
start reading a science fiction short story/novel and you are lost in the
beginning of it until I continue reading then i understand what’s happening
hahah (I think this happens to just me though)
In "Burning Chrome". I had a hard time comprehending the story, and correct me if I'm wrong, but Rikki didn't steal from them did she? I think she had done something she regretted to get the money for the eyes that she wanted, and then Jack gave her money to go away with because she was going to pursue her dreams and never returned. I could be wrong but that's the interpretation I gathered from it.Other than that I agree with you completely on the fact that Gibson is trying to portray a vain world where people will compromise their moral integrity for money, power, even looks. Unfortunately we, as a society, face those problems even today. Also, I wasn't too into that story but the romantic aspect is what kept my attention as well. And as far as Eileen Gunn's "Computer Friendly" NO you are NOT the only one haha. I get like that with these sci-fi stories all the time, and I also enjoyed the fact that the little girl was asking questions that we, as the reader, were asking as well.
ReplyDeleteChrome was for me an awful read, I had to go back several times to try and get the meaning of it. Definitely not a short I would recommend to anyone.
ReplyDeleteOn the contrary, I had thought Chrome was a very interesting read! I personally felt that they constructed a Matrix_type_computer program hindered the government from tracking them; which allowed them to accomplish their cyber-warfare job. I had felt that they where competing against the USSR, (Communist Russia) for Money.
ReplyDeleteWhich hindered**
DeleteI also agree with what you wrote about the romance element. Do you think that the romance was a good idea or do you think it was distracting? I think it was a wonderful idea to add it in but it is also kind of distracting from what they are actually trying to accomplish. Rikki did betray both of them but Jack didn't take it as bad as bobby did. Why do you think bobby took the betrayal worse?
ReplyDeleteNo, I do not think that the romance of it was not distracting at all. It instead added a human element in which we all or some could relate to.
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