MAPACA

Mid-Atlantic Popular &
American Culture Association

My presentation will focus on two themes found in William Gibson’s latest novel ‘The Peripheral’—mystery and redemption. One is the theme of mystery, the mysterious. Gibson suggests that while time travel is not really possible, it IS possible for information to be exchanged in both directions between the past and the future. This is accomplished through the use of a mysterious Chinese computer server. The problem is that Gibson never really explains how it works—characters keep referring to the mysterious Chinese server—no other details are made available. I suspect this ‘mystery’ will be fleshed out in a subsequent novel and discuss this possibility. The second theme I’ll explore is redemption, especially the redemption of the character ‘Conner’. When we first meet Conner he is a somewhat anti-social ‘wounded warrior’; an extremely disabled former specialized soldier who has a few loyal friends and many unresolved issues, primarily his anger at having lost many body parts without being provided appropriate prostheses, and his boredom. As events unfold Conner’s ability to adapt to the use of a ‘peripheral’ (essentially a spare, normal body) available ‘in the future’ and his military training allow him to become a more fully functioning and happier, more well adjusted person. Which is quite remarkable, considering what it is he is challenged to adapt to—communication with and eminent danger from—the future.