Arachne [Paperback]

Lisa Mason (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1997

Originally published in 1990, this is among the vanguard of the "cyberpunk" novels, hailed by The Boston Globe as a "cyberpunk classic." Carly Nolan, a fast-track young lawyer conducting trials at lightning speed in telespace, is suddenly plagued by terrifying "bug" in her telelink. In her search for a cure, she becomes the protege of a corrupt older attorney whose own career is spiraling out of control and the patient of Pr. Spinner, a robot therapist who covets the metaprogram of life. Fast and fun, ARACHNE explores what it means to be a sentient lifeform.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The invention of cyberspace has allowed humans to link into a shared electronic network, increasing hundreds-fold the speed of such complex interactions as courtroom trials. Carey Nolan is a new lawyer with the firm of Ava & Rice, trained in the techniques of shifting only her rational self into the cyberspace courtroom. But on her first case something else leaks through and causes her to crash. In danger of losing her job, she accepts a court order to be probed by medical experts. However, Spinner, the Prober to whom Carey is directed, is one of many Artificial Intelligences who believe that possession of these leaked substances--usually by theft--will lead an AI to transcendence. Such stealing invariably kills the human involved, so Carey's life is imperilled during her therapy. The prose in Mason's first book is uneven, but her inventive portmanteau vocabulary clearly depicts the wonders of a San Francisco 43 years after a second major 21st-century quake. The symbolism of the Arachne myth ties the story together at the climax.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

A Phi Beta Kappa scholar, Lisa Mason earned her Juris Doctorate at the University of Michigan Law School. She has published acclaimed short fiction in Omni, Year's Best Fantasy and Horror, Full Spectrum, Immortal Unicorn, David Copperfield's Tales of the Impossible, and numerous other anthologies and magazines worldwide. Her story, "Tomorrow's Child" is soon to be a major motion picture from Universal. SUMMER OF LOVE was a Locus bestseller, San Francisco Chronicle Recommended Book, and finalist for the Philip K. Dick award. Lisa Mason lives in the San Francisco Bay area with her husband, the artist Tom Robinson.

Product Details

• Paperback: 263 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial (July 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380729717
• ISBN-13: 978-0380729715
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,280,284 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm totally delighted to announce the launch of THE GARDEN OF ABRACADABRA, the advance Kindle ebook of the 2013 print edition of Book 1 of the Abracadabra Series. If you enjoy Charlaine Harris, Kim Harrison, Laurell K. Hamilton, Neil Gaiman, and, yes, Harry Potter, please give this a try!

I'm also happy to announce several new publications on Kindle: SUMMER OF LOVE, A TIME TRAVEL and the sequel, THE GILDED AGE, A TIME TRAVEL, both from previously published works; TESLA, A WORTHY OF HIS TIME, A SCREENPLAY, which is presently being read by L.A. producers; U F uh-O, A SCI FI COMEDY, a novella adapted from my science fiction comedy screenplay which is now FREE from January 9, 2012 to April 9, 2012 as a Kindle Select Title in the Lending Library; and EON'S KISS, a paranormal romance written under the pen name, Suzanna Moore. THE QUESTER TRILOGY, based on my cyberpunk classics, ARACHNE and CYBERWEB, as well as two collections of stories are forthcoming.

A graduate of the University of Michigan School of Literature, Sciences, and the Arts and the University of Michigan Law School, I'm the author of two dozen stories, two screenplays, and nine novels, including SUMMER OF LOVE, a San Francisco Chronicle Recommended Book and Philip K. Dick Award finalist, and THE GOLDEN NINETIES, a New York Times Notable Book and New York Public Library Recommended Book.

I published my first story, "ARACHNE," in Omni and have since published short fiction in magazines and anthologies worldwide. My Omni story, "TOMORROW'S CHILD," is in active development at Universal Studios.

I live in the San Francisco Bay area with my husband, the acclaimed artist and jeweler, Tom Robinson, and am a huge fan of cats and hummingbirds.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just cyberpunk as usual, March 21, 2005

By 

Chris Moriarty, author of SPIN STATE (Bantam ... (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Arachne (Hardcover)

This is such an astounding book that I don't know where to begin praising it. I first discovered ARACHNE back in the mid-90s only because I happened to stumble on the long out-of-print first edition in a used bookstore. I remember reading it with a growing mix of admiration and frustration. My final verdict back then: ARACHNE so completely transcended the normal hardboiled/cyberpunk categories that it was going to have to wait another quarter of a century to be recognized as the groundbreaking book it was. In fact it reminded me of Howard Aiken's great aphorism about originality: "Don't worry about people stealing an idea; if it's original you'll have to shove it down their throats." How wonderful then to see ARACHNE back in print! Go forth, gentle reader, and buy a copy of your very own. I can't promise you'll like it ... but I think the odds are good. Meanwhile I've got my fingers crossed that the rest of the SF world is finally catching up to Lisa Mason.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cyberspace Law, February 9, 2001

By 

Greg "Greg" (Toronto, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Arachne (Paperback)

Sarcastic robots, urban aboriginals, genetically-engineered beauty, soul-stealers, registered drugs...Lisa Mason manages to make these ideas and concepts flow in a fast-moving tale filled with action and meaning. Unlike a lot of cyberpunk, the reader doesn't get bogged down in the technical jargon and slang...she somehow makes it more real. The concept of Artificial Intelligence coveting human consciousness is fascinating. What I really enjoyed was how Mason dealt with the legal ethics of corporate law...from a corporate lawyer's view. Another great read from Lisa Mason!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hail Cyberpunk Women, February 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Arachne (Paperback)

I LOVED this book! Cyberpunk by a woman, and it's a winner. I highly recommend this book for cyberpunks who liked Neuromancer. This book is more clear. The sequel was good, also.