Zero History
Set among London's dark and tangled streets after the money-crash, Zero History is a thriller about the hidden webs and patterns that underlie the new century. Former rock singer Hollis Henry has lost a lot of money in the crash, which means she can't turn down the offer of a job from Hubertus Bigend, sinister Belgian proprietor of mysterious ad agency Blue Ant. Milgrim is working for Bigend too. A stylish, gripping technothriller from the multi-million copy bestselling author of Neuromancer.
Stats for nerds
10recommend
56mentions
45people
2010–2026years
21% recommend71% neutral7% critical
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
- As I say every time Gibson comes up, cyber is just a setting. Punk is the whole point. While you can certainly read Neuromancer in isolation, it’s worth reading the bridge trilogy and even Zero History to see how this plays out in different settings.
- I'll never forget that the first mp3 I ever downloaded was WG's self-read (and quite edited) Neuromancer audiobook -- must've been late 90's or early 00's. It is four pairs of 45min files and features an excellent techno soundtrack by U2's The Edge. I had never heard of the novel before he released the mp3s for free due to his publisher deciding they needed a more professional version. I have listened to it hundreds of times as programming background sound, such that I can still wow my fam by repeating entire random sections of it.
Much later, I have listened to his latest two books, The Peripheral and Agency many times (with teenage daughter), and love them as they are more actual sci-fi. That said, his previous trilogy (Pattern Recognition, Spook Country, and Zero History) are our favorite of his now, though they are barely what most would consider sci-fi. All his books are really capers and weave in his unique, poignant, and heart-oriented perspectives on our modern world.
It is worth noting that his collection of non-fiction articles, Distrust that Particular Flavor, is thought-provoking and simply wonderful.
- Part of your complaint is probably related to his style. Neuromancer was his first novel, and his style, while remaining distinctive, has improved substantially over the years. You may like it better in the The Bigend Trilogy: Pattern Recognition, Spook Country, Zero History: all vintage, recognizable Gibson, but not actually science fiction, and very much in tune with the world post-9/11. As much as I love all of Gibson, those three are my favorites, especially the first.
Dividing his books into "trilogies" is a little misleading; they all happen in the same shared universe and some common characters, but don't have deeply connected stories. Give Pattern Recognition a try, and see if 20 years makes a difference to you. (If you like audiobooks, Pattern Recognition is a gem, with almost the perfect fusion between story and narrator.)
- 'The Deadline: A novel about project management' by Tom DeMarco
Critical Chain by Eliyahu M. Goldratt
The Unicorn Project by Gene Kim (sequel to the Phoenix Project)
Makers by Cory Doctorow
Daemon & Freedom™ by Daniel Suarez
The Affinities by Robert Charles Wilson
Zodiac by Neal Stephenson
The Blue Ant trilogy (Pattern Recognition, Spook Country, Zero History) by William Gibson
Omnitopia: Dawn by Diane Duane
Walkaway by Cory Doctorow
Autonomous by Annalee Newitz
The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
Reamde by Neal Stephenson
Lock In by John Scalzi
Rascal Money by Joseph Garber
- OP asked about novels. Here are a few excellent novels in this genre which I highly recommend:
Soda Pop Solider by Nick Cole
Ctrl-Alt-Revolt by Nick Cole
Glasshouse by Charles Stross
Second the Vernor Vinge recommendations, and the Neal Stephenson and William Gibson Sprawl Trilogy recommendations.
Gibson's The Peripheral, as well as Pattern Recognition, Zero History, and Spook Country all apply, as well. Same for his Idoru, Virtual Light, and All Tomorrow's Parties.
Finally, Gibson and Sterling's The Difference Engine - the first and, so far, best steampunk novel - also qualifies, given the storyline.
- I highly recommend William Gibson's "Blue Ant" trilogy (Pattern Recognition, Spook Country, Zero History) if you're into this sort of topic.
