Burning Chrome

By, William Gibson

1982

Burning Chrome takes place in a post war era that is not centered around the digital world. Most of the jobs are technology based or done through simulation. It felt like most humans spent their time in the digital realm rather than the present and “real”. For example Rikki is constantly playing “Stimsin” where she can experience emotions others are feeling but without the reality of danger. Bobby states it’s extremely common recreational activity within her generation. The most powerful people in Burning chrome seemed to be the Mob, who operated most of the businesses and would rid of anyone who interfered with their business. Everyone in the city knew who they were and what they could do if they ever felt like they were being cheated. Chrome was the main character that operated the “House of Blue Lights”. She was taken into the mob when she first started dealing but worked her way up to a well-known and respected member. Her child like features were eerie especially combined with her nasty ability to kill anyone she wanted to. I think the whole story was interesting because of the two different themes, one being technology and the hierarchy after the war and the second being love and loss. Both Bobby and Jack have no desire to be rich and are on the verge of retiring from the hacking business until Bobby meets Rikki, who is his motivation. He wants to end with a bang and do it all for her, when he tells Jack he thinks Bobby is insane and stupid but he also has a thing for Rikki so eventually he gives in, wanting to give her the best. So both partners were working for the same reasons and once they actually finish the job she’s gone, she moved on.  The story ends at that point so it makes you wonder what they plan on doing with all their money because they didn’t ideally want it to begin with, what good is money or the ability to travel and see the real world if you have no one to share it with?

Computer Friendly

By, Eileen Gunn

1989

This story was overall disturbing. Society as a whole was going to desperate measures to ensure that the citizens would all fit a certain criteria, testing seven year olds to make sure they fit the standards to living in their society. It all seemed so normal and Elizabeth was so eager and excited to show off her skills, the ones she’s been practicing her entire life. I think Gunn chose to tell it in her point of view because she isn’t brainwashed yet, she still has a curious mind and wants to have fun. Elizabeth is only seven and isn’t completely confined in the societies boxes. When she makes her friends who are curious, hyper, and playful children she is in awe but admires their traits and wants to learn to be more like them. This affected my point of drastically because the best thing about children is how organic they are, their thought process and curiosity is like no other so to imagine it being taken away in the future is astounding. Parent’s putting their children in a permanent sleep and “trying again” makes it seem like they bought something at the store and it was broken, these are their children, their creations and it’s scary how quickly they dismiss them. Even when their children do pass the test and continue to grow into the program, so deeply involved they don’t even have communication it’s considered normal. The whole process is scary and the fact that nothing is off limits. I can’t imagine living like that and I wonder how many parents tried to hide their children form the test or if they are all in agreement with the program.