Idoru

William Gibson

Recommended By

Book Reviews

Jason Calacanis: "I love that book"

Book Synopsis

In the near future, where virtual entertainment and celebrity obsession dominate society, a rock star named Rez is on a mission to marry an artificial intelligence (AI) idol named Rei Toei, also known as the "idoru." As Rez’s marriage plans gain attention, a young fan named Chia Pet Mackenzie becomes deeply fascinated by both Rez and the idoru. Meanwhile, a former security guard named Rydell is hired to investigate a mysterious cult called the "Lo/Rez" that seems to be plotting against Rez.

As Rydell delves into the underground world of Tokyo, he discovers a vast array of characters, including a talented but troubled young girl named Laney, who has the unique ability to analyze and predict trends in the collective unconsciousness of the internet. With Laney's assistance, Rydell begins to unravel the complex web of intrigue surrounding Rez and the idoru, gradually uncovering the truth behind their relationship and the potentially catastrophic consequences it may have on society.

Through the interweaving perspectives of Chia, Rydell, and other characters, "Idoru" explores themes of celebrity culture, virtual reality, personal identity, and the implications of technology becoming indistinguishable from reality. As their paths converge, each character must confront their own desires, motivations, and obsessions, ultimately leading to a surprising climax that challenges the boundaries of human connection, creativity, and existence itself.

William Gibson’s "Idoru" is an enthralling and thought-provoking novel that combines elements of science fiction, cyberpunk, and social commentary, leaving readers pondering the nature of identity and the allure of artificial intelligence in an increasingly interconnected world.

Explore More Books

See All
Capital Ideas
Scotland
The Age of Entitlement
Mohammed and Charlemagne
Feeding the Dragon
Who We Are and How We Got Here
Frisco Kid
The Plant Paradox
The New Economics
The Warren Buffett Way
Live Your Truth
What We Owe the Future
With the Old Breed
The Greatness Mindset
Werner Herzog - A Guide for the Perplexed
Amusing Ourselves to Death
The Razor's Edge
The Little Prince
Lifespan
Foundation
The First Conspiracy
Proof of Corruption
Karl Marx's Theory of History
Masters of the Word
Black Flags
Thermoinfocomplexity
Fewer
Mathematics: Its Content, Methods and Meaning
The American Challenge
The Network State
Bel Canto
Mao
The Victorian Internet
Spain in Our Hearts
Asset Management
The Sovereign Individual
The French Revolution and What Went Wrong
Confessions of a Philosopher
The Innovators
Misbehaving
All Marketers are Liars
Off The Record
The Pleasure of Finding Things Out
Programming Bitcoin
A Random Walk Down Wall Street
The Great CEO Within
Founders' Son
Think Like a Monk
The Last Lion
Why We Believe in God(s)
The Poems of Dylan Thomas
Home Game
Platform Revolution
The Ethics of Money Production
Loonshots
In the Heart of the Sea
A Magic Web
21 Lessons for the 21st Century
The Little Bitcoin Book
The Sketchbooks of Chris Wilkinson
A Time for New Dreams
The Making of the Atomic Bomb
Thing Explainer
Monetizing Innovation
The Right Stuff
The Great War of Our Time
Our Mathematical Universe
Direct Truth
What You Want
Connectography
Why America Is Not a New Rome
The World According to Garp
Water in Plain Sight
An American Marriage
P53
Levels of the Game
The End of Power
Invariances
Think Like a Rocket Scientist
How to Be Topp
Intellectuals and Race
Hopping Over The Rabbit Hole
The Story of Civilization: Caesar and Christ
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
House On Fire
Personal Knowledge
From Third World to First
Little, Big
The Sports Gene
First a Dream
Innovating Out of Crisis
Team of Rivals
Disruptor
The Score Takes Care of Itself
As One Is
Where Mountains Roar
Justice on Trial
Return to the Little Kingdom
Mastery
Lords of Finance