SYNNERS (Spectra Special Editions) [Mass Market Paperback]

Pat Cadigan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1991 | Series: Spectra Special Editions

In Synners, the line between technology and humanity is hopelessly slim. A constant stream of new technology spawns crime before it hits the streets; the human mind and the external landscape have fused to the point where any encounter with "reality" is incidental.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Pat Cadigan (1953 -) Pat Cadigan was born in Schenectady, NY, and grew up in Fitchburg, MA. Attending the University of Massachusetts on a scholarship, she eventually transferred to the University of Kansas where she received her degree. Since embarking on her career as a fiction writer in 1987, her Hugo and Nebula Award-nominated short stories have appeared in such magazines as Omni, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, and Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine as well as numerous anthologies. Her first collection, Patterns, was honoured the Locus Award in 1990, and she has won the Arthur C. Clarke Award in 1992 and 1995 for her novels Synners and Fools. Pat Cadigan moved to the UK in 1996 and now lives in London. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Spectra; First Edition edition (January 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553282549
• ISBN-13: 978-0553282542
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #768,977 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars You've Gotta Read This Book!!, November 30, 2001

By 

Holly Kramer (Decatur, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Synners (Paperback)

Pat Cadigan's Synners is an interwoven chronicle of three main characters: Gabe, Sam, and Gina. Gabe is an advertising agent for Diversifications, Inc. and Sam, his daughter, is a hacker. Gina is a synner (creator of the near-future rock videos) whose company was bought out by Diversifications, Inc. Drugs that help with depression have been reinforced by implants provided at "feel-good clinics". Diversifications, Inc. has discovered a plan for a new implant that provides prerecorded dreams that can be accessed for entertainment. Gina's coworker, Visual Mark, has been selected as the experimental subject because of his exceptional visual imagination.

Synners uses familiar Cyberpunk concepts such as global computer networks, direct computer linkups to the brain, enhanced recreational drugs, young hackers and a modified form of rock music. This story revolves around the introduction of new technology, such as implants to treat depression and brain sockets to enhance entertainment. It also revolves around what happens when new technology begins to do the unexpected.

Synners is presented at a perfect pace and is told in a multi-threaded style, where the characters intertwine with each other. The character development and plot are written with elaborate detail, but the theme is very simple. This book is very entertaining, even though concentration and close attention are needed in order to understand what is happening. I enjoyed this book very much and highly recommend reading it.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Even if you don't like cyber-punk, you'll like this., June 26, 1998

By 

Windvein "Windvein" (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Synners (Paperback)

I'm not a huge sci-fi fan, but I like good stories. This is a fine story. I admire Cadigan's ability to have several stories going at once, a ton of characters interacting, and still keep it interesting and fun. I recommend her other novels Mindplayers and Fools. They aren't as funny, but the plots are intrigueing and complex. Cadigan is a very original writer, and I love reading her work.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Synners, November 30, 2001

By 

Kristen (Rockford, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Synners (Paperback)

Synners by Pat Cadigan is a profoundly written book by any standards. It is considered a Cyberpunk book, but it can be enjoyed by anyone who likes a challenging mystery-type novel also. She uses many different, deep characters in so many different settings that it can tend to be confusing, but she also does an excellent job of tying them all together in the end. This novel requires a lot of thought and perception, but it grabs you from the very first page. Cadigan uses nameless characters and a unique setting to create an ambience of mystery around the entire book.

Synners is set in the future and is mainly based on this close-knit group of hackers that use information sent to them by a friend to stop a big business from creating implants and inserting them into people of all types, including young children. This business, Diversifications, says it will be used to stop learning and mental problems but everyone is quite wry of this new development. The problem is that this big business wants to use music videos to promote them. This is a problem because then it would reach too many people, even people who had no need for them. Synners gives you a very person-friendly technological atmosphere and tons of action.

Cadigan uses this plot to bring in an intriguing and very technology based theme. She also uses an element of mystery into the book to grab and keep the readers attention. Synners is a great read for anyone who is the least bit interested in technology and mystery. Cadigan does a great job of keeping the book interesting. If you do chose to read this book make sure you are ready for a confusing ride through the minds of many different characters and character-types.