gordon@bu-cs.UUCP (10/22/87)
Another example of cyberpunk, the Hooded Swan series by Brian Stableford.
The series centers around an out of luck star pilot who is indentured
by a large corporation after they rescue him from a barren rock where
he had crash landed and been stranded for two years. He is a very
independent minded guy who resents his debt to the company. Cyberpunk
themes are present. His work for the company consists of piloting their
wonderful new ship, the Hooded Swan which features an interface where
the pilot "jacks in" and enters a cyberspace in which he IS the ship,
his eyes are the ships remote sensing systems, etc. On top of this
he has picked up a "mind parasite" while he was stranded on the rock.
This mind parasite is very similar to the flatline construct in
Neuromancer, except he cannot be rid of it, and he does not dare tell
anyone lest they diagnose him insane. The "Wind" as he calls it is
actually very good natured and helps him out of some tight spots, but
he wants more than anything to be rid of it. There are about seven
books. I recommend them as entertaining reading, but don't expect a
religious experience. The main character is likable.
--
Gordon Lee
Distributed Systems Group
Boston University