Web of Angles and Another Cyberpunk

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A novel where the narrative is generated through the drawing of tarot cards, illustrating the role of chance and contingency in storytelling.

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In this book, Paul Barolsky examines the role of wit and humor in Italian Renaissance art, providing insights into the artistic and cultural context of the period. The work delves into how artists of the Renaissance used humor and wit in their creations, reflecting the broader cultural and social attitudes of the time.

Dune, written by Frank Herbert, is set in a feudal interstellar society where noble houses control planetary fiefs. The story follows Paul Atreides, whose family is tasked with ruling the inhospitable desert planet Arrakis, the sole source of melange, a substance crucial for extending life and enhancing mental abilities. The novel delves into the intricate politics, religion, ecology, and technology of this futuristic world, as various factions vie for control of Arrakis and its valuable spice. Paul, with his unique abilities and training by the Bene Gesserit, becomes a key figure in this struggle and eventually assumes the role of a messianic leader among the native Fremen people.

Published in 1984, 'Neuromancer' is a seminal work in the cyberpunk genre. The novel revolves around Case, a skilled hacker who was once the best in his field but was crippled by his former employer after he tried to steal from them. Case is recruited by a mysterious employer named Armitage for a high-stakes mission that involves hacking into the highly secure systems of the Tessier-Ashpool family. Joined by a diverse group of allies, including the cyborg Molly and the performance artist Peter Riviera, Case must navigate the complexities of cyberspace and the real world to merge two powerful artificial intelligences, Wintermute and Neuromancer. The book explores themes of technology, identity, and the blurring of lines between the physical and virtual worlds.

This anthology includes stories such as 'Johnny Mnemonic,' 'The Gernsback Continuum,' and the titular 'Burning Chrome,' which delve into a future dominated by technology and corporate power. The stories feature characters like hackers, data couriers, and individuals grappling with identity and existence in a high-tech, low-life world. Gibson's writing is characterized by gritty realism, rich imagery, and thematic depth, exploring issues of alienation, class structure, and the moral ambiguities of advanced technology.

The Passage is set in a near-future world where a government experiment involving a virus from a South American bat species leads to an apocalyptic outbreak. The virus transforms people into superhuman, vampire-like creatures known as 'virals'. The story follows FBI agent Brad Wolgast and six-year-old Amy Harper Bellafonte as they navigate this new world. The novel spans over a century, beginning with the origins of the virus and its immediate aftermath, and then jumping forward 93 years to follow a colony of survivors in California. The narrative is rich in character development and uses various storytelling devices such as emails, journal entries, and newspaper reports to paint a vivid picture of a world in collapse and the resilience of its survivors.