Call number
Genres
Publication
Bantam (1994)
Pages
583
Description
From his triumphant debut with Snow Crash to the stunning success of his latest novel, Quicksilver, Neal Stephenson has quickly become the voice of a generation. In this now-classic thriller, he and fellow author J. Frederick George tell a shocking tale with an all-too plausible premise. There's no way William A. Cozzano can lose the upcoming presidential election. He's a likable midwestern governor with one insidious advantage--an advantage provided by a shadowy group of backers. A biochip implanted in his head hardwires him to a computerized polling system. The mood of the electorate is channeled directly into his brain. Forget issues. Forget policy. Cozzano is more than the perfect candidate. He's a special effect. "Complex, entertaining, frequently funny."--Publishers Weekly "Qualifies as the sleeper of the year, the rare kind of science-fiction thriller that evokes genuine laughter while simultaneously keeping the level of suspense cranked to the max."-- San Diego Union-Tribune"A Manchurian Candidate for the computer age." --Seattle Weekly… (more)
Media reviews
This is one of those books that you return to again and again -- as I have just done, reading all 600+ pages of it in stolen moments over the past few days -- and find something new to like about each time.
Awards
Audie Award (Finalist — Thriller/Suspense — 2011)
British Science Fiction Association Award (Shortlist — Novel — 1996)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1994
Physical description
583 p.; 9.5 inches
ISBN
0553372300 / 9780553372304
Local notes
"Bury" is a pseudonym for Neal Stephenson and a co-author
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User reviews
LibraryThing member grizzly.anderson
The premise of Interface is that a super-secret cabal of ultra-rich investors who never actually make an appearance, have become annoyed with the government and decide to replace it with one they can control. Through computer chips in the brains of the top elected and appointed officials. An
Interface is set in very near future of contemporary America of the time it was written ('94). The problem is that it apparently took quite a long time to write, so a lot of the little contemporary touches ring very false. Cell phones are non-existent at the start of the novel, but a few months later at the end, they are casually being used by the assistants of great people, but not by the great people. There are references to Presidents Clinton and Bush. Presumably Bush the First, but that the ambiguity combined with a second Bush make the mix of contemporary and 10 years ago technology even more jarring.
Stephenson and George obviously worked to get a lot of details right, down to making fun of the name of the public transportation system in Denver, and then completely blow it by inventing a shopping mall where none ever existed because they couldn't be bothered to figure out how to get their character 10 blocks further in to downtown.
The story frequently plods. It brings in numerous characters, building up more or less significant back story around them, just so they can provide a relatively minor bit of the plot and then be quickly discarded. Even the science is mix-n-matched to provide an easy out later in the plot. All of these things serve to make what could have been an enjoyable political thriller into a lumbering disappointment.
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interesting idea, and since I'd just finished re-reading Snowcrash and was jonesing for some more Neal Stephenson I figured I'd try it. Unfortunately the novel pretty quickly collapsed under its own weight.Interface is set in very near future of contemporary America of the time it was written ('94). The problem is that it apparently took quite a long time to write, so a lot of the little contemporary touches ring very false. Cell phones are non-existent at the start of the novel, but a few months later at the end, they are casually being used by the assistants of great people, but not by the great people. There are references to Presidents Clinton and Bush. Presumably Bush the First, but that the ambiguity combined with a second Bush make the mix of contemporary and 10 years ago technology even more jarring.
Stephenson and George obviously worked to get a lot of details right, down to making fun of the name of the public transportation system in Denver, and then completely blow it by inventing a shopping mall where none ever existed because they couldn't be bothered to figure out how to get their character 10 blocks further in to downtown.
The story frequently plods. It brings in numerous characters, building up more or less significant back story around them, just so they can provide a relatively minor bit of the plot and then be quickly discarded. Even the science is mix-n-matched to provide an easy out later in the plot. All of these things serve to make what could have been an enjoyable political thriller into a lumbering disappointment.
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LibraryThing member MixMasterMax
Quite mediocre. An interesting, if not necessarily original, idea about implanting a device capable of influencing the brain in a presidential candidate in order to control US politics. The plot, however, is contrived - and doesn't really deliver on the mind-control premise - and the characters are
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cardboard. The writing is good enough to keep it from being painful, so it makes an overall OK read for travel etc. Show Less
LibraryThing member buttsy1
What started as a good idea, and became quite intriguing, becomes sillier as it goes along. Some terrific suspension of disbelief is required to run with the author on this one.
The technology dates the story in curious ways (there seems to be an awful lot of VCR recorders in use), but does not
Ultimately, disappointing and a bit dumb.
The technology dates the story in curious ways (there seems to be an awful lot of VCR recorders in use), but does not
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detract from the plot. My edition, Arrow Books 2002, had many typos which is far more distracting! Ultimately, disappointing and a bit dumb.
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LibraryThing member jefware
It may be a little dated but the premise is fresh and the technology is still surprisingly relevant.
LibraryThing member Archren
I didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. That’s not to say that it isn’t flawed; it certainly isn’t perfect. But I found myself pulled along by the fast prose and the likable characters.
The incumbent president tries to forgive the national debt, standing at ten trillion dollars.
There’s a shadowy cabal and the forces that oppose them. I think my biggest problem with books like this is how far removed they are from reality. If there were shadowy cabals that could round up people as incredibly brilliant and competent as those shown here, then frankly, the country would be better run than the messy democracy we’ve really got.
A lot of the plot is silly and improbable, and many of the characters are cardboard cutouts, but even most of the bad guys are likable (a few genuine evil annoying people wander through, but don’t last long) and it’s shamefully fun to see how high the improbabilities can stack up, and what sort of conclusion it will all come to. Actually, the conclusion isn’t even that great. It seemed a little gratuitous, a little rushed. But it is satisfying, in its way. This book isn’t for the serious reader of literature. But for people who enjoy political thrillers, it should be fun.
The incumbent president tries to forgive the national debt, standing at ten trillion dollars.
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All the other action springs from reaction to this event. There’s the first flaw: the President proposes, but Congress disposes. There is no way the Congress would ever let the President do something so silly. However, the rest of the book is still interesting. The Governor of Illinois suffers a stroke. The science fictional element of the story involves a chip implanted in his head that allows brain signals to propagate across the otherwise dead areas of his brain. But what else does the chip in his head do?There’s a shadowy cabal and the forces that oppose them. I think my biggest problem with books like this is how far removed they are from reality. If there were shadowy cabals that could round up people as incredibly brilliant and competent as those shown here, then frankly, the country would be better run than the messy democracy we’ve really got.
A lot of the plot is silly and improbable, and many of the characters are cardboard cutouts, but even most of the bad guys are likable (a few genuine evil annoying people wander through, but don’t last long) and it’s shamefully fun to see how high the improbabilities can stack up, and what sort of conclusion it will all come to. Actually, the conclusion isn’t even that great. It seemed a little gratuitous, a little rushed. But it is satisfying, in its way. This book isn’t for the serious reader of literature. But for people who enjoy political thrillers, it should be fun.
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LibraryThing member topps
Interesting idea. Kinda like the Manchurian Candidate. Ending was a bit weak compared to his other books.
LibraryThing member librarythingaliba
This was another good book from the author. Having been indoctrinated to him with Snow Crash (a humorous yet forward thinking cyberpunk story), I was taken back by the real-worldliness of this novel (granted at the time of it's writing in 1995, it may have been more like sci-fi). At any rate, it
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was an interesting exploration of the machninations of politics and the movers and shakers in the political arena. Gets a little "loose" at the end, although that's always the sign of a book that would make a good movie. This one would be a fun replacement for the Manchurian Candidate. Show Less
LibraryThing member rondoctor
This book is more political fiction than science fiction. It is an excellent read. Very well done. Terrific plot interwoven with well-drawn characters.
LibraryThing member LTFL_JMLS
Not as great as NS's later solo SF work, but an enjoyable political thriller with some touches of technology thrown in. Plus lots of it takes place in Illinois.
LibraryThing member lewispike
As a non-US citizen the satire on the US electoral system, focus groups, negotiations for TV debates etc. is entertaining. The idea of the chip that lets stroke patients recover and the uses and abuses of it is great SF too.
LibraryThing member cargocontainer
This book is really better than it should be. The descriptions of the political process are illuminating, and the way it injects the technological-fiction aspect is brilliant. The characters are convincing in the world presented in the book, even if the world is slightly exaggerated. I've read it
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twice and find that it is a good choice during a major election cycle if you find cynicism toward the media aspect of the campaigns interesting. Show Less
LibraryThing member AJBraithwaite
I loved this book and am surprised that it hasn't been made into a movie yet. It's a well-written, gripping combination of media manipulation, abuse of power and the fight of a small band of decent people trying to overcome the big guys. With a side order of intelligent humour. I had a hard time
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putting it down in the last two days. Show Less
LibraryThing member gregory_gwen
Not as great as NS's later solo SF work, but an enjoyable political thriller with some touches of technology thrown in. Plus lots of it takes place in Illinois.
LibraryThing member JenneB
Good stuff--holds up surprisingly well after ~15 years. Especially appropriate now with the election.
However, I got halfway through and realized I'd already read it. I have no idea when.
However, I got halfway through and realized I'd already read it. I have no idea when.
LibraryThing member benjamin.duffy
You can tell it's Stephenson, as it deals with some of his main concerns, but you can also tell it's early Stephenson. Not as smooth, sleek or brainy as Snow Crash (which actually predates this book, I believe) or The Diamond Age, but a fun, thought-provoking read.
LibraryThing member Gwendydd
The president has just announced that he wants to default on the nation's enormous debt, so a huge secret financial syndicate implants a brain control device in a presidential candidate to make sure he wins. Except trying to describe the plot of this book really doesn't do it justice, because it
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explores a lot of themes - the power of the media to interfere in politics, the power of money, the implications of technology that can work wonders to heal damaged brains... this is part political thriller, part sci-fi, and part satire. The characters are engaging and fun, the story is interesting and thought-provoking in a non-intellectually-taxing mind-candy sort of way, the writing is excellent. This is an all-around entertaining and fun book. Show Less
LibraryThing member jkdavies
Read years ago, loaned my copy out which I never got back; found a second hand copy an re-read.
This is a story of politics, polling, popluraity mixed with high tech bio-engineering. I was more impressed first time around as it was pretty new to me ~10 years ago. Still a good story but the passage
This is a story of politics, polling, popluraity mixed with high tech bio-engineering. I was more impressed first time around as it was pretty new to me ~10 years ago. Still a good story but the passage
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of time makes it seem less like fiction. Show Less
LibraryThing member brakketh
Modern day Manchurin Candidate.
LibraryThing member ohernaes
Political near future sci-fi thriller. Media operator Cy Ogle takes political polling to a new level, using continuous tracking of people's emotions to fine-tune political messages. Add to that the ability to control the messenger (the politician), and he has a powerful mix to serve the interests
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of the Network. Cory Doctorow's repeated endorsements were what drew me to the book in the first place. Doctorow saw the part about the politician Earl Strong as the prediction of the rise of Donald Trump. I am not so sure, Earl Strong is a minor character in the book, and, unlike Trump, is undone quite quickly in his political ambitions. We could certainly use some real life Eleanor Richmonds, however I doubt that she would have been enough to stop Trump. I liked the book, but would not go so far as Doctorow in calling it a "masterpiece". Show Less
LibraryThing member Crayne
Interface is a political science-fiction thriller rollercoaster in typical Stephenson-style. What that means is that while there's a very engrossing plot, you get extensively educated on some subject as you follow it. That subject being the American political system. Also there is the blatant
William A. Cozzano is a hardworking, no-nonsense Republican governor who suffers a stroke just as the president of the US announces his radical and foolish plan to simply set aside the national debt and consider it absolved. This incurs the wrath of one of the world's primary movers and shakers: the Network. And what the Network (a loose shadowy conglomerate of indivuals, companies and funds) wants, the network gets. In order to restore balance to the world, they initiate a plan to gain control of the US, by maneuvering a puppet into the pilot seat. That puppet is to be William A. Cozzano and a biochip implanted directly in his brain - ostensibly to facilitate his recovery from the stroke - is to be the key to the Network's power grab. But as schemes for world-domination are wont to do, a wrench is stuck squarely where it shouldn't and as those around Cozzano attempt to undo their hold on him, all the Network's power is channeled into maintaining it. As you may have guessed, it ends in chaos.
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commentary upon it that runs throughout the book, but I happen to agree with said views, so I can't see that as a hindrance. William A. Cozzano is a hardworking, no-nonsense Republican governor who suffers a stroke just as the president of the US announces his radical and foolish plan to simply set aside the national debt and consider it absolved. This incurs the wrath of one of the world's primary movers and shakers: the Network. And what the Network (a loose shadowy conglomerate of indivuals, companies and funds) wants, the network gets. In order to restore balance to the world, they initiate a plan to gain control of the US, by maneuvering a puppet into the pilot seat. That puppet is to be William A. Cozzano and a biochip implanted directly in his brain - ostensibly to facilitate his recovery from the stroke - is to be the key to the Network's power grab. But as schemes for world-domination are wont to do, a wrench is stuck squarely where it shouldn't and as those around Cozzano attempt to undo their hold on him, all the Network's power is channeled into maintaining it. As you may have guessed, it ends in chaos.
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LibraryThing member NoSuprises
Never a dull moment from Mr Stephenson. Maybe not quiet up there with Cryptonomicon, but not far off it.
LibraryThing member waldhaus1
The story of using emotional profiles of the American people to elect the president. It relies on clever technology that gives instantaneous feedback on people's responses and allows it too be used to stimulate the candidates mind. The characters are well drawn. There are several unexpected twists.
There was a similar story written on the sixties that primed a candidate with selective data from each electoral district as he campaigned there. I don't recall three end of that book.
Interface was published at the dawn of the she of public Access to the internet. Smartphones were barely imagined.
Stephenson wrote the book with his uncle. They created a thought provoking book. The didn't imagined the 2020 invasion of the capital.
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There was a similar story written on the sixties that primed a candidate with selective data from each electoral district as he campaigned there. I don't recall three end of that book.
Interface was published at the dawn of the she of public Access to the internet. Smartphones were barely imagined.
Stephenson wrote the book with his uncle. They created a thought provoking book. The didn't imagined the 2020 invasion of the capital.
Show Less