NN Gibson re Orwell

[pynchonoid]

I can see why some P-listers might like Gibson's view
of the Internet better than Pynchon's -- I expect they
also suffer G's delusion that the image of an
empowering Internet somehow gives individuals some
sort of parity with the multinational corporations and
government entities that control the Internet.  
Pynchon knows better -- he's wiser, and more
insightful.  His Foreword to _1984_ is also funnier
and more thought-provoking.  (Please note that all the
Internet access in the world wasn't able to prevent
Ashcroft's agents from rounding up thousands of
individuals and disappearing them in the middle of the
night in the wake of September 11, and all the
Internet organzing of millions of people around the
world couldn't stop Bush from invading first one and
then another weak and helpless country; note as well
that the US and other governments in fact use the
Internet to target those it considers enemies.) Plus,
it's by Pynchon.  As entertaining as Gibson can be,
his work is weak and derivative compared to Pynchon's.

<http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/25/opinion/25GIBS.html>

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month!
http://sbc.yahoo.com