Mystery and/or Spy Genre of Fiction
As a mystery/spy novel aficionado, I thought this book has an interesting plot line. Who is this “Garage Kubrick” whose short, seemingly unrelated clips captured the attention of the whole world? Why is he (or she) doing it? In order to advertise something? For the fun of it? To simply play with people’s minds? Those questions I feel are the essence of the mystery portion of the novel. And then there are those mentions of James Bond and his tactics for security breaches that Cayce adamantly follows. Furthermore, there is espionage with Dorotea serving as an international spy, and the creation of fake personas with Keiko, Parkaboy’s fictional Japanese girl. There is the central figure Hubertus Bigend, like Bond’s M, who orchestrates the schemes and has the connections and the money. There is the sidekick, Boone Chu, who tags along and provides vital pieces of information. There are enemies and impending violence, and high stakes in case the plan goes wrong (the maker will cease creating more of the videos). All in all, Gibson could consider writing under Ian Fleming’s genre if he ever needs a change in scenery.
Internet and the Prospects of Online Social Networks
The main plot in the novel seems to center around the Internet and the videos posted on F:F:F. Social networks are where people connect without confrontation, where they interact while experiencing the comforts of their home or personal space. It’s where they can interject opinions and tear down those of others, where they can discuss things important to them without going through the dilly-dallying of small talk. In Gibson’s world, the people following the mysterious footage can connect with other “believers” and share a sense of community and secrecy. That’s why Cayce was shocked when Bigend asked her what she thought of The Kiss. Cayce believed her work to be separate from her life with the forum and when Bigend proposed to merge those two worlds together, it left her feeling confused. The reason that online social networks have catapulted to such great heights as they have, is because people turn to them as others would turn to books or movies. It’s a sense of detachment from dull and dreary lifestyles, a place where one can focus on being someone else. In the “real” world, Cayce is a logo-phobic cool hunter who lives in a house with robots. On F:F:F, she is one of the footage enthusiasts with remarkable insight and high connections. Everyone, for the most part, respects what Cayce says on F:F:F. Not everyone (ex. Dorotea) respects what Cayce says while she’s at work. It leaves little doubt to why she’s so eager to sign in on the forum every day.
