Customer Reviews

Interface

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The central question for anyone contemplating purchasing this novel is: is it Neal Stephenson, or is it the co-author who's the intellectual engine?

It reads like Stephenson -- curiously, more like "Zodiac" and "Cryptonomicon" than like the middle works, "Snow Crash" and "The Diamond Age." "Snow Crash" is a dazzling portrait of the William Gibson's cyberspace taken to a higher level: the Metaverse. It's fascinating, but true science FICTION. The same is true of "The Diamond Age," which, while Stephenson's most intellectually thought-provoking work, is the least accessible.

"Zodiac" and "Cryptonomicon," and "Interface," on the other hand, are SCIENCE fiction. "Zodiac" is chock full of information about environmentalism and industrial pollution; "Cryptonomicon" is a cornucopia of mathematics and cryptology. The science in those novels is basically present day, without the need for more than minimal extrapolation. The same is true of "Interface."

Other Stephenson touches: a fine eye toward non-tedious detail. One thing I found amazing about "Cryptonomicon" was that Stephenson could describe eating cereal in four pages without making it boring, something that neither Herman Melville nor Charles Dickens would have been able to accomplish (for me). "Interface" has that same quality of nerdy fascination in the seemingly trivial.

In summary: if you liked "Cryptonomicon" and/or "Zodiac," you'll probably like "Interface" as well.

If you're like me, you've already read Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash, Diamond Age, Zodiac, his on-line short stories, and are now sketchin' to get your hands on anything else by him.

Well, "Interface" is good, but not as great, in my opinion, as the works penned under the author's real name. The ideas are just as killer as in his other books, but this story lacks the overall punchy Gen-X narrative that I consider to be Stephenson's greatest asset, apart from his way cool ideas. To be fair, this is really an unfair comparison since the whole purpose of Stephenson writing under the "Bury" pen name was probably to allow him to go after the mainstream (more conservative?) market without disappointing his traditional fans (but someone let the cat out of the bag) and without prejudicing the non-science fiction reader, hence "Interface" is categorized under general fiction, rather than sci-fi.

So if you don't mind a slightly watered-down read, do check this book out. As I mentioned, the ideas are still Grade-A Stephenson.

As for me, I think I'll draw the line at "Cobweb"--I heard it was a collaboration effort and that sounds too diluted for me.

This book really made me take a step back and look at our upcoming Presidential elections in a whole new light. Sure, it's sci-fi and not real, but it's pretty scary to imagine that our political system could degenerate even further into something like this. Personally, I tried to avoid comparing this to other works of Stephenson's. I'm impressed that he's able to extend his range beyond high tech speculation to lower tech political thrillers like this book and Zodiac. These books won't appeal to readers with a narrow focus on sci fi like Snow Crash or Diamond Age. However, for readers who don't mind less technical sci fi or even those who just like political thrillers, pick up a copy of this book. There are some slow parts in the plot and it is very detail oriented, but overall this is a book I would recommend to my friends, even those who are not sci fi aficionados. Think of this book in the upcoming Presidential election race!

This novel is typical Stephenson. All of the characters, although not very deep, are very well fleshed out. The technological aspect is very relavent for the current times of instant internet polls. This was a very quick read which you do not get the pleasure of experiencing in a lot of his novels. Like most of his works, Stephenson researches what he is talking about and you actually learn something should you choose to do so. It has the typical Stephenson finish of ending at the climax.
You will enjoy this book if you like Stephenson, Science Fiction, Political Fiction, CSI or any of those other shoes, or if you just want a good read. This book is appropriate for all ages but a healthy dose of cynicism may be needed for enjoyment.

I first came across the book back in 1994. As a satire of the political process, it seemed entirely relavent than. Now, it reads like history.

In the story, elections are controlled by a shadowy "Network" of multi-billionaires who operate through campaign media mogul "Cy" Ogle. He plants a computer chip in the head of a popular Illinois Governor who has suffered a stroke. Communicating through this technology, Ogle controls what his candidate says, which thanks to sophisticated polling techniques, is always just what voters want to hear.

Issues? An economic plan? Who needs 'em? Ogle just consults a polling device attached to a volunteer from a target demographic (given hilarious names like "Economic Roadkill" and "Mall-Hopping Corporate Concubine.")

This is not to be mistaken for a thorough political analysis, but the novel is a good,brisk read, even for those who, like me, are not always huge fans of science fiction.

Interface posits a new computerized device that can be implanted in a person's brain that can help the brain recover from the effects of a stroke by re-making some of the neural connections destroyed by the stroke, with the side 'benefit' of allowing a two-way communication path to an external computer. This device is installed in the brain of the Governor of Illinois, who becomes a Presidential candidate. The story follows his campaign and the slow gain of complete control of his mind by a shadowy Network that financed the research for the device, directed by its media control arm as embodied by a virtuoso of a campaign/advertising manager. As the other side of the equation, another device is introduced, a very much enhanced version of a lie detector that can deliver a person's emotional reactions in real-time to whatever he is experiencing. These devices are given to 100 people who represent a complete cross-section of the American voting public, and their reactions to campaign events allow instant feedback control of what the candidate should do/say to maximize his appeal.

The story reads as a high-suspense political action thriller, with a very dark sub-text of there really are powerful, world-spanning conspiracy groups who are intent on molding the world solely to their own benefit. While the prose style is adequate and straightforward, Stephenson's normal cynicism, hysterically funny irony, and satirical stabs at the world are almost wholly lacking here, and the net result is something of a poor copy of a Tom Clancy thriller. Characterization is thin and uneven; even the Governor is little more than a cardboard setup. I felt the final plot resolution was forced, with certain unnecessary elements, and is probably politically impossible, which heavily detracted from his overall thematic message. A great idea, but could have really used the Stephenson we found in Snow Crash.

Interface is a very well-crafted political satire. Like the best satires, it places a recogniseable institution into an extraordinary situation, adds a good dose of humour, and uses that to expose some truths about the real world.

What is interesting about Interface is not the science-fiction storyline about brain implants or global conspiracy. What makes this a brilliant book is the insight it gives into the election process, mostly in the USA, but I'm sure it translates worldwide.

This is what made it impossible for me to put the book down.

According to an interview with Neal Stephenson which I read, he *does* co-author both "Interface" and "Cobweb" with his uncle. OK...I agree with other reviewers that the style of this book is *not* what we're used to from Stephenson - it doesn't have the same flourishes of linguistic prowess or the fantastic metaphors of his solo writing - however, you can see his hand in the twists and turns of the plotline and, to a certain extent, the character development. I almost got the feeling that Neal outlined the story and his uncle filled it in. Maybe I'm being too critical. I would have to say that this is one of the best political thrillers I've read in a long time. If you like this one, I'd recommend "Cobweb" too.

What an enjoyable read! All of the characters were engaging, believable, and just offbeat enough to be fun. There is some really interesting science, also. Think Michael Crichton meets Joe R Lansdale. The story line is completely plausible, well thought out, and best of all, highly entertaining. This book should be on everyone's list of favorites. My wife loved it too!What many critic types seem to forget is that we read for entertainment and escape much more than we crave social and historical relevance from our favorite authors. Please note: There is absolutely no need for you to be politically inclined in order for you to enjoy this book.

Hey, this is a good book. A great read, even. I'm telling you right now: pick up a copy if you like Neil Stephenson.

Why? Because it was written, if only in part, by Neil Stephenson. It's easy to tell that Stephenson wasn't totally involved; while much of the prose is taut and exciting, not to mention technologically astute, it lacks the sheer level of unbridled hilarity that Stephenson brings to his work, trading a cackle for a knowing smirk.

That aside, "Interface" is an extremely amusing book -- but one that's also quite plausible in today's world of politicians who seem to come prepackaged with sound bites and blow-dried hairdos. Indeed, some politicians' behavior would seem to suggest that they've been given precisely the same treatment as "Interface"'s William Cozzano.

The book's ending is quite spectacular and, one could say, entirely out of place -- a symptom which is, unfortunately, all to typical of Stephenson's books. But Stephenson has always preferred to go out with a bang rather than a whimper, and this book is no exception.