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
In-N-Out Burger
East of Eden
Taken for Granted
Naked Statistics
The Story of Civilization: Our Oriental Heritage
Radical Candor
The Warburgs
The Blank Slate
When Genius Failed
That's What She Said
The Hobbit
Little Brother
We Were Soldiers Once... And Young
Eating Animals
Vitamania
The World According to Garp
Profile of a Nation
Read Write Own
Where Is My Flying Car?
The Slow Midnight on Cypress Avenue
The Quiet American
In Praise of Shadows
Excession
The Global Macro Edge
Losing The Signal
Outliers
The Martians of Science
Titan
Changing Minds
Writing Down The Bones
The Subtle Knife
Kelly
The Design of Everyday Things
When To Jump
The Master Plan
The Girl With The Lower Back Tattoo
Interventions
The Activist's Media Handbook
Only the Paranoid Survive
Paper Lion
The Victorian Internet
The Starfish and the Spider
The Survivor
Beat the Wealth Management Hustle
The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty
Fall; or, Dodge in Hell
Pattern Recognition
Reboot
Drunk Tank Pink
The Success Equation
The Smartest Investment Book You'll Ever Read
Moab Is My Washpot
Trader Vic
The Jordan Rules
The Postman Always Rings Twice
When Reason Goes on Holiday
The Lion Tracker's Guide to Life
Getting Better
Simon the Sea Cat
Rick and Morty Book Three
Sex, Murder, and the Meaning of Life
Right Thing, Right Now
The Outermost House
The Power Law
High Fidelity
What If?
How The Scots Invented The Modern World
The Lessons of History
Bitcoin and Black America
So Good They Can't Ignore You
My Stroke of Insight
Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World
Swallows and Amazons
The Yellow Pad
The Richest Man in Babylon
The Chile Project
Troubled
The Law
When Breath Becomes Air
The Autobiography of Charles Darwin
Collected Fictions
Civilisation
Women
In Search of Lost Time
Steve Jobs & The NeXT Big Thing
The Little Book of Common Sense Investing
The Book of Nothing
Who Moved My Cheese?
Modern Times
Batman
How Innovation Works
The Sixth Man
Trade-Off
March
Getting Past No
Spiritually Incorrect Enlightenment
McMafia
The Elements of Statistical Learning
Tlon, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius
The Fear Factor