He, She, and It vs. Neuromancer

[Lauren Steates]

I can't help but compare He, She, and It to Neuromancer. A few of the technological pieces used in Neuromancer are strikingly similar to those used in He, She, and It. For example, in the beginning of the book, Piercy describes how the characters can physically plug themselves into a network:

"Then she sat down at her terminal again and plugged in, inserting the male coupler from the terminal; into the little silver socket at her temple, just under the loop of hair that always fell there."

"...in Tikva, every child was raised to be able to access directly, taught to project into the worldwide Net, into the local Base."

In Neuromancer, the characters can similarly connect themselves physically to a network. Why do you think these two ideas are so similar? Did the authors just have similar views about what life would be like or was Piercy influenced by Gibson?

[Rebecca Burtram]

I too was beginning to notice that the authors, Stephenson included, use similar concepts when it comes to the use of the technology as well as its effects on the physical world. I would imagine that Gibson was the crusader in the field with Neuromancer simply because his was the first. I think after that, if the authors have read other authors, they can not help but be influenced by each other.

[Rachel Alexander]

I wouldn't be surprised if Piercy was influenced by Gibson, but as He, She, and It was first published in 1991, she was probably influenced by the beginnings of the internet as well. I remember the early internet, and it wasn't anything like it is today. I think these authors have great imaginations to be able to evolve the concept as they have. In my notes I drew a comparison between the concept of social strata in the two novels, as well as the differences and similarities in the two society's take on drugs. Anything goes in Neuromancer, but in He, She, and It rampant drug use is reserved for the lowest (and most common) social level.

[Judith Piccione]

I also find the drug use in both novels interesting. What are the authors trying to get at by showing that these people in these highly technological societies are constantly getting high?

As I begain reading He, She, It, I found myself making connections to Neuromancer quite a bit as well, but I also found the importance of education making connections to The Diamond Age. For example, on page 50 of the novel, they were discussing how schools auction for students and pay for the best onces...sound like scholarships to anyone? That's all I have for now. I need to get back to reading.

[Amanda McK]

There are numerous themes that are re-occuring through these 3 books. Education has been a very important theme in He, She, and It, for me as well, much like it was in The Diamond Age. And I am still trying to figure out how it relates to one's rank, as Shira is an incredibly intelligent individual, yet her rank remains low. This is interesting, as education is almost always connected to or suggestive of one's status.

I am also intrigued and somewhat shocked with how sexuality and sex are portrayed in all of these books, via virtual reality. Have others noticed this as well? In both of the previous books, people could experience virtual sexual stimulations, which is also represented in Piercy's novel. I think of sex as a truly authentic experience, and don't think it could be captured/replicated via computer or virtual reality. What are other people's thoughts on this?

[Lauren Steates]

I don't think the virtual sex in the books are meant to be like actual sexual experiences nor to replace them. But it is interesting that virtual sex is mentioned in several of the books that we have read. Perhaps this was Piercy's view about where porn, etc. is heading in the future???

[Kelli Voltz]

I'msure there may be a little influence by other authors but I think that the internet has become so popular and powerful in not that long of a time span that it only makes sense that it will become even more powerful and advanced in years to come. I think that it's hard for people and these authors to think of the future and not have ideas of the net pop into their heads.

[Rebecca Burtram]

I feel a little bit like a dork, but I actually read the acknowledgments section of the book after I finished it last night. It answers your question directly as to the influence of Gibson.
(page 431)"I enjoy William Gibson very much, and I have freely borrowed from his inventions and those of other cyberpunk writers"
So I guess we don't need to hypothesize. We have it straight from the horses mouth :-)

[Nicole Brady]

I agree with all the previous posts. I don't think a cyberpunk novel could have been written without being influenced by Gibson's Neuromancer. Throughout the three novels there are many little things that link together. The Sprawl Boston-Atlanta and the Glop which stretches from Boston to Atlanta is one thought. Also, the contrast between the open spaces and the urban cramped ghettos is apparent in all three novels, although less so in Neuromancer. I mentioned in another discussion that I noticed how all the characters also have methods they have developed to survive in the hecticness of the future worlds. Little things like walking but not running, looking as though one knows where they are going, and reading people. They are true in today's world but some of the similarities in survival techniques is what drew my attention.

Amanda K: I think that the sexual stimulation in cyberspace is not meant to be like real sex, which is often emotional, because the humans are not connected emotionally to the stimulus. So NO, it can't really be the same, in my opinion.