Distrust That Particular Flavor
A collection of New York Times bestselling author William Gibson’s articles and essays about contemporary culture—a glimpse into the mind of a writer whose thinking has shaped not only a generation of writers but our entire culture…
William Gibson is known primarily as a novelist, with his work ranging from his groundbreaking first novel, Neuromancer, to his more recent contemporary bestsellers Pattern Recognition, Spook Country, and Zero History. During those nearly thirty years, though, Gibson has been sought out by widely varying publications for his insights into contemporary culture. Wired magazine sent him to Singapore to report on one of the world’s most buttoned-up states. The New York Times Magazine asked him to describe what was wrong with the Internet. Rolling Stone published his essay on the ways our lives are all “soundtracked” by the music and the culture around us. And in a speech at the 2010 Book Expo, he memorably described the interactive relationship between writer and reader.
These essays and articles have never been collected—until now. Some have never appeared in print at all. In addition, Distrust That Particular Flavor includes journalism from small publishers, online sources, and magazines no longer in existence. This volume will be essential reading for any lover of William Gibson’s novels. Distrust That Particular Flavor offers readers a glimpse into the mind of a writer whose thinking has shaped not only a generation of writers but our entire culture.
“Gibson pulls off a dazzling trick. Instead of predicting the future, he finds the future all around him, mashed up with the past, and reveals our own domain to us.”—The New York Times Book Review
“One of the most astute and entertaining commentators on our astonishing, chaotic present.”—The Washington Post Book World
“I forget that in addition to being a major novelist (Zero History, Neuromancer, etc.), he’s one of the best essayists and critical observers currently operating within our sociocultural sphere. This is his first essay collection, and it’s messed up how good it is: raw, weird, honest, smart.”—Lev Grossman, Time Entertainment
“Exquisitely written, done to a turn with both insight and that unmistakable prose that is just shy of spectacular….This is a fine and even essential complement to the Gibson canon, and a delight to read.”—BoingBoing.net
“Though he’s often lauded as a big-picture man, these pieces make one thing clear: He’s even better with the little details.”—A.V. Club
“[Gibson’s] new collection of nonfiction shows that his secret strong suit is with the here and the now.”—Los Angeles Times
“The most startling pieces here crackle with his excitement at discovering some unexpected aspect of the new.”—The Globe and Mail (Canada)
“A breezy, engaging read.”—The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
“Potent…elegant prose.”—The Seattle Times