Review | Agency | William Gibson

We’re delighted to be sharing Elena’s thoughts about Agency by William Gibson.

Agency: THE DYSTOPIAN SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE PERIPHERAL

San Francisco, 2017. Clintons in the White House, Brexit never happened - and Verity Janes got herself a new job. They call Verity the app-whisperer, and shes just been hired by a shadowy start-up to evaluate a pair-of-glasses-cum-digital-assistant called Eunice. Only Eunice has other ideas. Pretty soon, Verity knows that Eunice is smarter than anyone shes ever met, conceals some serious capabilities and is profoundly paranoid - which is just as well since suddenly some bad people are after Verity. Meanwhile, in a post-apocalyptic London a century from now, PR fixer Wilf Netherton is tasked by all-seeing policewoman Ainsley Lowbeer with interfering in the alternative past in which Verity and Eunice exist. It appears something nasty is about to happen there - and fixing it will require not only Eunices unique human-AI skillset but also a little help from the future. A future which Verity soon fears may never be . . .

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Agency is the follow up to the science-fiction epic in The Peripheral and although I haven’t read the first novel, it can easily be read as a standalone book. The author takes inspiration from recent world events.

The book has two separate timelines: one set in an alternative recent history where Brexit didn’t actually happen and Hilary Clinton was made President instead of Trump. Verity is dealing with the fact that digital assistant Eunice is more intelligent than anyone could ever have ever imagined. There is also instability in the Middle East with concerns that recent terrorist attacks in Syria could lead to nuclear catastrophe.

Meanwhile, the second timeline takes place in apocalyptic London where Wilf Netherton works amidst other survivors. His boss Ainsley Lowbeer can look into different pasts and change their outcomes and Verity and Eunice become the focus of their attentions.

This is an explosive, innovative and riveting book which is full of action and an interesting writing style. Its scarily close to reality and while reading it you cannot help but imagine what goes on in the book happening in real life. It makes for some uncomfortable reading in parts but this doesn’t detract from the fact that it’s an enjoyable read.

Although not a genre I would normally choose I enjoyed this book in large part because of the interesting characters and premise.

Using a reading journal will let you take back control of your reading habits, stop you from feeling overwhelmed, plan your reading and leave the fear of missing out behind (low cost too!).

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As an avid reader one thing that helps me from becoming overwhelmed is being organised and a reading journal does just that.

Pages in the journal:

Currently Reading
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Book Summary
Reading Planner
Reading Tracker
Reading Log
Publishing Soon
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Reading Challenge
Bookshelf
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Book Review
Library Returns

William Gibson is the award-winning author of Neuromancer, Mona Lisa Overdrive, The Difference Engine, with Bruce Sterling, Virtual Light, Idoru, All Tomorrow’s Parties and Pattern Recognition. William Gibson lives in Vancouver, Canada. Twitter @GreatDismal

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Shaz Goodwin

Qualified as a Sleep Consultant, Dyslexia Therapist, Reiki Master, Mental Health First Aider and Mindfulness Practitioner, my passion is for sharing anything that will make life easier. My love of reading, crocheting, being out in nature and positive psychology are all things that help me unwind.