Exploring the Matrix: Visions of the Cyber Present (Hardcover)

~ Karen Haber (Editor) "The question I hear most often in interviews conducted by people with only a passing acquaintance with science fiction is, "What drew you to science..." (more)
Key Phrases: maximal simulation, action choreographer, sentient programs, Star Wars, William Gibson, Agent Smith (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Larry and Andy Wachowski scored big in 1999 with The Matrix, a science-fiction film in which cyber-rebels discover the world is an artificial computer-generated construct. Beneath the film's airborne martial arts were philosophical underpinnings, and the thriller's huge success prompted piles of merchandise, animated shorts, magazines, Web sites and books. Now a new wave begins, timed to coincide with the May 15 release of The Matrix Reloaded, the second feature in the series. This anthology covers the film's concepts and themes. Haber, a veteran sci-fi and fantasy editor, assembles an array of original essays by 17 science-fiction authors and digital artists, including Alan Dean Foster, Joe Haldeman, Bruce Sterling and Ian Watson. John Shirley (Black Butterflies), insightfully explores what he defines as a new cinema movement of "films questioning reality" as he compares The Matrix with American Beauty, Fight Club and the enigmas embedded in Mulholland Drive. Shirley sees allegories amid adolescent imagery, while nanotech novelist Kathleen Ann Goonan finds the Zen within. David Brin traces fiction's "suspicion of authority"; writer-illustrator Dean Motter tours The Matrix's kinetic architecture; and Kevin J. Anderson examines the Columbine connection. Philip K. Dick and cyberpunk pioneer William Gibson both get many mentions throughout this compelling collection, yet Gibson is regrettably absent as a contributor. Displaying 20 imaginative b&w illustrations by Robert Zohrab and Darrel Anderson, these potent pages conclude with a six-page section of author profiles.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Compelling . . . imaginative . . . potent."
- Publishers Weekly

"Editor Karen Haber has attracted an impressive list of major SF names...it's fascinating to see the reactions each of these authors has to the film."
- Cinescape

"Dazzling...Each piece subjects the movie to a deep scrutiny that serves to make it ever more intriguing...this is at once entertaining and instructive."
- Locus

"A fun browse for information-hungry fans."
- Library Journal

"Interpretations and riffs, criticism and praise, pop-culture film theory and gosh-wow pseudo-philosophy...readers who loved the movies and grabbed the book because of that will discover a great many ideas they've never heard of before."
- Analog

"Think The Matrix is just a neat Keanu Reeves sci-fi flick with cool sunglasses and big guns? Guess again, bucko. This essay collection shows how the first part of the Wachowski brothers' trilogy is really about Taoism, oracular philosophy, moral relativism, Ronald Reagan, and Big Brother...many of the pieces should also entertain."
- Maxim

"You never know quite what to expect from nonfiction tie-in to a popular film, but Exploring the Matrix, edited by Karen Haber, exceeds whatever the expectations are--and with considerable brio . . . A must-read for the film's fans."
- Paula Guran, Dark Echo
-- Review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; 1st edition (May 2, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312313586
• ISBN-13: 978-0312313586
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,465,587 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Matrix examined by science fiction authors, February 8, 2008

By	Curupira (Salvador, Bahia Brazil) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Exploring the Matrix: Visions of the Cyber Present (Hardcover)

This is a very interesting book, with essays written by several science fiction and cyberpunk authors, like John Shirley, Bruce Sterling, Stephen Baxter and others. Some essays are great, others are so-so, but all in all, it is definetly worth its price.

4.0 out of 5 stars Visions of the cyber present or the future?, November 25, 2008

By	Michael Valdivielso (Alexandria, VA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

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Terrorist or freedom fighter? Reality or just a whiner's view of life? Red Pill or Blue Pill? The Chosen One or a Teenager's wet dream? Explore the Matrix, from the science to the myth, and find out if it is what you thought it was. Great book to read before watching the next two films. Even better to read after them and see how many nails the authors' hit on the head. David Brin, Joe Haldeman, Alan Dean Foster, and Kevin J. Anderson. Young and old masters of the science fiction story. Lets dive into the book and see how THEY see the Matrix.

4.0 out of 5 stars Matrix and Cyberpunk science fiction, March 29, 2008

By	Christopher H. Harrington (Reno, NV USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Exploring the Matrix: Visions of the Cyber Present (Hardcover)

This book was very entertaining. Although it is a bit misleading, the book discusses Cyberpunk fiction more than the Matrix. But that is what I enjoyed about this book. The collection of essays is fun and goes through some great largely unknown books of sci-fi. The Cyberpunk genre is cultish but a personal favorite of mine.

If you like the Matrix this is a good book but don't complain about sidetracking to other topics of interest, because that is what this book does.