So this review is going to be in two parts; the first being about the novel, the second being about it's connection to The Matrix (1999).

So... I'll be honest... I have no clue what I just read. This novel is credited as one of the first cyberpunk novels to ever be written. William Gibson has pioneered the genre. I had read some of his other books, and needed a 'N' book for my Alphabet Challenge this year, so Neuromancer it was. I'll be perfectly honest, you can 100% tell this was his first book. Usually, you're just thrown into his books with the main overarching story/technology explained within the first 50 pages. Here, I had no clue what was happening. I sorta get the overarching story, but not really. Like I get what the mission is. I don't fully get the meaning of the book. There was too much not explained to really understand what was going on. I feel like this book is one that will have to be read at least 3 times to really get the plot. I'm happy he dialed it back for his other novels to make it an easier read for a wider audience (making it really easy to tell this was his first). It gives off the feeling that he plotted this story down to the very last detail, but forgot that we don't know the story. It feels like he got so caught up in knowing his story and what everything means that he forgot to explain that for people who don't know the story at all.

Now, why am I bringing up The Matrix (1999)? Neuromancer is credited as one of the main inspirations for the film. Knowing how often cyberpunk gets ripped off without proper credit (just look at the table top game and CD Projekt Red), I was curious. So other than some characters and names mentioned nothing is similar. The matrix is a place in the novel that gets jacked into, sort of like a computer database where you can draw and 'see' information. Not like the movie where it is our world. Zion is mentioned in the book as a people/place, but far from what the movie depicts it as. Finally, there are obvious parallels between Molly and Trinity, although I'd say the two characters are vastly different (same goes with Morpheus and Armitage). Originally, what I thought happened was The Matrix had too many similarities to Neuromancer, that not giving it an even inspired by credit in the film might've been on some shady legal grounds, but that is not the case. Did this book inspire The Matrix? No doubt. Did it rip it off or need a credit? 100% not.