Islands in the Net
by Bruce Sterling · first published 1977
50% recommend50% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Near-future cyberpunk-adjacent thriller that anticipates geopolitics, data havens, and guerrilla tech. Its grounded speculation appeals to fans of Gibson and Stephenson.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
From the back cover: Laura Webster's on the fast track to success. A bright young star in a multinational conglomerate, she's living well in a post-millennial age of peace, prosperity, and profit. In an age of advanced technology, information is the world's most precious commodity. Information is power. Data is locked in computers and carefully rationed through a global communications network. Full access is a privilege held by few. Now, Laura Webster is about to be plunged into a netherworld of black-market data pirates, new-age mercenaries, high-tech voodoo... and murder.
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
2012–2024Broken Angels
Richard K. Morgan
Recommended by 5 · mentioned by 85 recommend · 8 mention5 recommend · 85 recommend
2008–2025Heavy weather
Bruce Sterling, Gary Tiedemann
Recommended by 8 · mentioned by 168 recommend · 16 mention8 recommend · 168 recommend
Holy Fire
Lynn, David
Recommended by 5 · mentioned by 95 recommend · 9 mention5 recommend · 95 recommend
2017–2022Black Man
Richard K. Morgan
Recommended by 1 · mentioned by 51 recommend · 5 mention1 recommend · 51 recommend
The ware tetralogy
Rudy Rucker
Recommended by 5 · mentioned by 65 recommend · 6 mention5 recommend · 65 recommend
2008–2026The Shockwave Rider
John Brunner
Recommended by 47 · mentioned by 7547 recommend · 75 mention47 recommend · 7547 recommend
2012–2023The zenith angle
Bruce Sterling
Recommended by 1 · mentioned by 31 recommend · 3 mention1 recommend · 31 recommend
2010–2022Distraction
Bruce Sterling
Recommended by 6 · mentioned by 136 recommend · 13 mention6 recommend · 136 recommend
…again I've yet to read anything by Gibson I didn't like, including the most recent books. So I might not be the best guide... I recommend looking into Bruce Sterling, if you enjoy Gibson - particularly Islands in the Net (if you can find it! I ended up buying an expensive used copy online) and Holy Fire.
on “William Gibson is a literary genius” ↗If you enjoyed "Snow Crash" and "Diamond Age", I'd recommend "Islands in the Net" (if you can get hold of a copy) and "Holy Fire" by Bruce Sterling. Or for something newer, "the Zenith Angle" by same. I've also enjoyed all of Willam Gibsons books, including the latest trilogy "Pattern…
on “Ask HN: I loved Snow Crash and Daemon. What should I read next?” ↗…no pressing need to "own" such books -- unless they are truly close to my heart in some way. But there are some great books, that are unjustifiably rare, and hard to get hold of -- four examples: * Islands in the Net (Bruce Sterling) * The man who walked to the Moon (Howard McCord) * Last Chance to See (Douglas Adams) * Literary Machines (Ted Nelson) The three first I've bought second hand, still looking for…
on “Humble eBook Bundle 2” ↗…"Dahlgren" by Samuel Delaney (and most everything else I've read by him as well). "Earthsea" by Ursula LeGuin - and "Powers". "Diamond Age" by Neal Stephenson. "Holy Fire" by Bruce Sterling (I also enjoyed Islands in the Net, Zenith Angle and Schismatrix). "Foundation" trilogy + prequel by Isaac Asimov. "Brave New World", Aldous Huxley. "Deepness in the Sky" / "Fire Upon the Deep" by Vernor Vinge. "Something wicked this…
on “Ask HN: What are some must read books?” ↗A co-op like Mondragon but global in scope is at the center of 'Islands in the Net' by Bruce Sterling. There's a much smaller co-op at the heart of 'Shockwave Rider' by John Brunner, but discussion of the mechanics is central to the story. This is an incredible book.
on “How Mondragon Became the World's Largest Co-Op” ↗> In terms of that "90's Retrofuturistic So-Cal Strip Mall Apocalypse" brand of cyberpunk, I think William Gibson's Virtual Light was far more satisfying to revisit. See also "Islands in the Net" by Bruce Sterling (IMNHO). Ed: BTW, for a newer book (2017) that plays with some interesting concepts - see "Gnomon" by Nick Harkaway. Just don't read a summary or too much about before you start -…
on “Snow Crash Related Items Auction” ↗…some of his newer books a chance -- I see they're quite well received by people that seem to like other good books :-) If you enjoyed "Snow Crash", you might also enjoy (or hate...) Bruce Sterling's "Islands in the Net".
on “An Interview with Neal Stephenson” ↗"Islands in the Net" by Bruce Sterling did a great job of capturing the current zeitgeist, way back in the 80s. Data havens, guerilla tech, UCAVs, and a post-9/11 world.
on “What Science Fiction Movie or Novel Is Most Prescient Today?” ↗"Bruce Sterling - Islands in the Net": not as gritty-noir as Neuromancer, not as pop-cynic as Snow Crash but a genre classic imho. T.R.Napper is also worth looking out for. "Neon Leviathan" is not what i would call a masterpiece, but the…
on “The Influence of Neuromancer on Cyberpunk” ↗Bruce Sterling should also be remembered as a major contributor to the formation of the genre, on par with Gibson and Stephenson. Islands in the Net grounded future speculative tech in emerging real-world geopolitics, and Schismatrix took the genre into far future space, introducing the concept of cybernetics vs. biological augmentation.
on “The Influence of Neuromancer on Cyberpunk” ↗The first is "Neal Stephenson," no "v." I enjoy both but much prefer Sterling's earlier work (Islands in the Net, Schismatrix, Heavy Weather).
on “The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind” ↗Many great recommandations already. I'd recommend Sterling as well, perhaps "Islands in the net" if you can get hold of a copy. Or "holy Fire". Stephenson's "Diamond Age", "Snowcrash". I read Singh's (non-fiction) "Codebook" before giving "Cryptonomicon" a shot - ended up not finishing it. Do recommend…
on “Electric Sheep on Ubuntu Linux 17.10” ↗…getting someone into reading for pleasure. I'd recommend for example (in no particular order - just some great books imnho): Earthsea quartet by LeGuin Dune by Herbert South of the Border by Murakami Islands in the Net by Sterling Foundation trilogy by Asimov Speed of Dark, by Moon Accelerando, by Stross Murderbot diaries, by Wells A Fire Upon the Deep, by Vinge (and Rainbow's End by same) 2312, by Robinson And…
on “Why read Dostoevsky? A programmer's perspective” ↗I read 'Islands in the net' a few years ago and thought it was contemporary before I saw it's from 1988 (!!!)...
on “William Gibson is a literary genius” ↗Yup. I noticed a line in Islands in the Net where one of the characters waits until evening to make a phone call when the rates are low. I had a chuckle, but it didn't detract from the rest of the story that was definitely good. Though I should…
on “Mirrorshades: The Cyberpunk Anthology (1986)” ↗