Virtual Light
Virtual Light is a cyberpunk novel by William Gibson, first published in 1993. This narrative, the first entry in the Bridge Trilogy, explores a dystopian near-future where society is deeply fractured, and the gap between the rich and the poor is cavernous. The story unfolds in a post-earthquake California, with the narrative centered around two characters: Chevette Washington, a bike messenger who steals a pair of technologically advanced glasses that contain highly sensitive information, and Berry Rydell, a former cop turned security guard who becomes embroiled in the ensuing chaos that the theft incites. As they navigate a world marred by greed, corporate influence, and rampant technology, their stories intertwine, revealing a society where the boundary between reality and virtual is increasingly blurred. Through this stark depiction of a future society, Gibson continues his exploration of themes such as technology's influence on humanity and the socio-economic disparities exacerbated by it.
Signed by Gibson on the half-title page.
Hardcover. First Edition, First Printing. Octavo, cloth backed boards. New York: Bantam Books, 1993. Hugo Award nominee.1994 (1994). ISBN: 0553074997. #10168.
Fine in fine dust jacket.