Mona Lisa Overdrive
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 Cover of first edition (hardcover) |
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| Author | William Gibson |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Sprawl trilogy |
| Genre(s) | Science fiction novel |
| Publisher | Victor Gollancz Ltd |
| Released | 1988 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover & Paperback) |
| Pages | 251 pp |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-553-05250-0 |
| Preceded by | Count Zero |
Mona Lisa Overdrive is a Cyberpunk novel by William Gibson published in 1988 and concludes the The Sprawl trilogy which is formed of Gibson's prior novels, Neuromancer and Count Zero. It takes place eight years after the events of Count Zero and is set, as were its predecessors, in The Sprawl. The novel was nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1988 and the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1989
[edit] Plot summary
It is formed from several interconnecting strands and also features characters from Gibson's previous books (such as Molly Millions, the razor-fingered mercenary).
One of the story lines concerns Mona, a young prostitute who has a more-than-passing resemblance to famed Simstim star Angie Mitchell. Mona is hired by shady individuals for a 'gig' which later turns out to be part of a plot to abduct Angie.
The second story focuses on a young Japanese girl, daughter of a Yakuza boss, sent to London to keep her safe while her father engages in a gang war with other Yakuza members. In London she is cared for by one of her father's retainers who is also a member of the London Mob. She also meets Molly Millions, who takes the girl under her wing.
The third story thread follows a reclusive artist who lives in the 'Rust Belt', a large expanse of deserted factories somewhere near Chicago. A convicted car-thief, he spends his days creating large robotic sculptures. He is hired by an old friend to look after the comatose 'Count' (Bobby Newmark), who is hooked into a super-capacity cyber-harddrive called an Aleph.
The final plot line follows Angie Mitchell, Simstim star and the girl from the second Sprawl novel Count Zero. Angie, thanks to brain manipulations by her father, has always had a close subconscious affinity for the Matrix, but drugs provided by her production company have altered her brain.
The story of the reclusive artist that makes cybernetic sculptures is a reference to Mark Pauline of Survival Research Labs.[citation needed]
[edit] Allusions to the novel in popular culture
The name Mona Lisa Overdrive has been used in several musical contexts:
- A piece on The Matrix Reloaded soundtrack, performed by Juno Reactor at request and under the supervision of the Wachowski brothers.
- An early 1990s American industrial band.
- An album by the Japanese group Buck-Tick.
- A song performed by the band Head Candy on the Mad Love movie soundtrack.
[edit] See also
Novels: The Sprawl Trilogy: Neuromancer, Count Zero, Mona Lisa Overdrive • The Difference Engine (with Bruce Sterling) • The Bridge trilogy: Virtual Light, Idoru, All Tomorrow's Parties • Pattern Recognition • Spook Country
Short stories Johnny Mnemonic • The Gernsback Continuum • Fragments of a Hologram Rose • The Belonging Kind • Hinterlands • Red Star, Winter Orbit • New Rose Hotel • The Winter Market • Dogfight • Burning Chrome • Skinner's Room
Film adaptations: Johnny Mnemonic • New Rose Hotel • Pattern Recognition
Miscellanea: Agrippa (A Book of the Dead) • No Maps for These Territories • X-Files episodes
