Mona Lisa Overdrive (1988) – William Gibson
Mona Lisa Overdrive is the third novel in William Gibson’s seminal Sprawl Trilogy, following Neuromancer (1984) and Count Zero (1986). Published in 1988, this cyberpunk classic weaves together multiple narratives in a dystopian future where the boundaries between humanity and technology blur. The story follows an ensemble cast, including Kumiko Yanaka, the daughter of a Yakuza boss; Angie Mitchell, a celebrity with a neural implant linking her to the matrix; Slick Henry, a mechanic with a criminal past; and Mona, a young prostitute caught in a high-stakes conspiracy.
Gibson’s razor-sharp prose explores themes of artificial intelligence, virtual reality, corporate dominance, and identity fragmentation—all set against the gritty, neon-lit backdrop of the Sprawl, a vast urban megacity stretching from Boston to Atlanta. The novel’s title nods to both the enigmatic allure of its characters and the novel’s focus on manipulation and control, both human and digital.
For Fans of Gibson’s Cyberpunk Vision:
- Snow Crash (Neal Stephenson, 1992) – A satirical, high-octane take on virtual worlds and linguistic viruses.
- Altered Carbon (Richard K. Morgan, 2002) – A noir-infused exploration of body-swapping and immortality.
- Burning Chrome (William Gibson, 1986) – A short-story collection that expands the Sprawl’s universe.
