Exploring the Matrix: Visions of the Cyber Present

by Karen Haber

Book Overview

It is the beginning of the twenty-first century, and we are living on the cusp of change. Reality has already spawned one alternate state, and for many people virtual reality is now where they are most at home. But what happens when virtual worlds become indistinguishable from what we consider to be the real world? When you wake up from a dream, how do you know that you are not still dreaming? And if the reality we're in is virtual, who is doing the...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312313586
• ISBN13: 9780312313586
• Release Date: May 2003
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.18 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.1" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Visions of the cyber present or the future?

Terrorist or freedom fighter? Reality or just a whiner's view of life? Red Pill or Blue Pill? The Chosen One or a Teenager's wet dream? Explore the Matrix, from the science to the myth, and find out if it is what you thought it was. Great book to read before watching the next two films. Even better to read after them and see how many nails the authors' hit on the head. David Brin, Joe Haldeman, Alan Dean Foster, and Kevin J. Anderson. Young and old masters of the science fiction story. Lets dive into the book and see how THEY see the Matrix.

Matrix and Cyberpunk science fiction

This book was very entertaining. Although it is a bit misleading, the book discusses Cyberpunk fiction more than the Matrix. But that is what I enjoyed about this book. The collection of essays is fun and goes through some great largely unknown books of sci-fi. The Cyberpunk genre is cultish but a personal favorite of mine. If you like the Matrix this is a good book but don't complain about sidetracking to other topics of interest, because that is what this book does.

The Matrix examined by science fiction authors

This is a very interesting book, with essays written by several science fiction and cyberpunk authors, like John Shirley, Bruce Sterling, Stephen Baxter and others. Some essays are great, others are so-so, but all in all, it is definetly worth its price.

interesting anthology

the eve of the release of the first of two sequels (the number 3 is the power number in science fiction - reviewer babble). The eighteen contributions come from a virtual "cyberpunk and science-fiction visionaries" with most of the inputs quite interesting especially when two authors are diametrically opposite in their interpretation of the film. Debates range the gamut from whether the heroes are cyberpunks opposed to the overreach of science placing a web on their personal lives or comic book superheroes on the screen. If one is looking for the next great philosophical debate or a treatise on the Second Coming, then go elsewhere. However, fans of the movie will enjoy the discussion, much of which is simple fluff, but also enough fun stuff. Though enjoyable, the bottom line of EXPLORING THE MATRIX is the psycho prattle debate seeks hidden meaning when to many of the fans it is simply an entertaining flick.Harriet Klausner

From *DarkEcho*: For Both MATRIX & Cyberpunk Fans

You never know quite what to expect from a nonfiction tie-in to a popular film or series. (I'm sure one of these days we'll see THE RELIGIOUS IMPLICATIONS OF DOCTOR WHO, and HANNIBAL LECTER'S FAVORITE RECIPES and they'll be just as bad as those titles suggest.) But EXPLORING THE MATRIX, edited by Karen Haber, exceeds whatever the expectations are -- and with considerable brio.EXPLORING THE MATRIX offers far more than a choice of red or blue pill. There are predictable references to William Gibson, P.K Dick, Charles Dodgson, Jack Williamson, and Nick Bostrum; but there are also random flashes of the unexpected: "Punk fashion has always been protective armor. The spikes, the leather, the razors, the zippers, they are what you put on after flower-power has choked to death on its own vomit. It's Kevlar for the soft marshmallow core of youthful idealism." (Bruce Sterling)..."The result of figure _without_ ground is _Symbolism_." (Dean Motter)... "the most successful movements are always punished by becoming clichés" (David Brin)...Joe Haldeman muses briefly about interpreting the movie through the obscure mythology of sf fandom (and wisely tiptoes by that sleeping dog.)You'll find some agreement and constant contradictions: THE MATRIX is nothing but style / THE MATRIX has spiritual depth. It has nothing to do with cyberpunk; it has everything to do with cyberpunk. And the essays say a surprising (and contradictory) amount about cyberpunk itself. Most of the essays are more entertaining than weighty. It's all well-written, formalized "sitting around the bar with very intelligent, witty friends at a great con" stuff rather than dissertation material. You'll find yourself wanting to continue the discussion -- "Well, yes, but what about..." or "Oh no! I have to disagree..."Paul DiFillippo's essay on literary influences solidly connects everything and everyone from the Bible, Blake, and Baum to Michael Moorcock and Neil Gaiman. Haber considers the black joke that the high-tech sfx movie is profoundly anti-science. Alan Dean Foster proves that the movie's true meaning is that nerdy geeks can triumph. Ian Watson's essay connects THE MATRIX to French social theorist Jean Baudrillard and convincingly argues it should be seen as a superhero movie exploiting, rather than exemplifying, cyberpunk themes. John Shirley seems to be the only writer to recognize "the group of films galvanized by the same furnace of fermenting realization" along with THE MATRIX. Rick Berry writes on the ancient past of CGI and expresses refreshing optimism about cyberspace.The essays are accompanied by the magnificent art of Darrel Anderson (who also supplies an essay) and Robert Zahrab (which, sadly I could get only an impression of since I have the galley and not the finished product) and spiffy design. A must-read for the film's fans, EXPLORING THE MATRIX it's highly recommended reading for science fiction buffs as well. -- Paula Guran#