2005: Welcome to NoCal and SoCal, the uneasy sister-states of what used to be California. Here the millenium has come and gone, leaving in its wake only stunned survivors. In Los Angeles, Berry Rydell is a former armed-response rentacop now working for a bounty hunter. Chevette Washington is a bicycle messenger turned pickpocket who impulsively snatches a pair of innocent-looking sunglasses. But these are no ordinary shades. What you can see through these high-tech specs can make you rich--or get you killed. Now Berry and Chevette are on the run, zeroing in on the digitalized heart of DatAmerica, where pure information is the greatest high. And a mind can be a terrible thing to crash...
Don't expect this to be a "cybernovel" filled with cool terms and thought-provoking ideas of the future. But it does make for a good read if you have a couple of hours to kill and have nothing better to do. --
...after reading this, I probably will not be coming back to Gibson for more. -- Harry Raden, OnwardElsewhere
This is a Book every self-respecting subversive subculturalist should read. -- Wayne Klick, Wayneklick.com
Virtual Light is a William Gibson novel and while reading it you will wonder what has happened to his creative abilities. -- Ram Samudrala
Gibson is an exceptional wordsmith. His style is unique, but unfortunately style also seems to be all his writing is about. Plotwise, Virtual Light is a most simple thriller. -- Christian "naddy" Weisgerber