Neuromancer: Setting/Scene Changes

In Neuromancer, William Gibson introduces the setting in a bar named Chatsubo or 'Chat' for short. This place is not described in much detail, but it is hinted at that it is some sort of underground, almost unethical, dirty area due to the drunks and "whores" that inhabit it. The story quickly moves on to its next setting, "Night City" which lies in Chiba, Japan. This city of "techno-criminal subcultures" and black markets is described as shadowy with a "television sky." This refers back to the opening line of the story which introduces the sky above the port as "the color of television, tuned to a dead channel." These descriptions alluding to death and darkness are common in the beginning of the story as Gibson goes on to describe where Case sleeps as a "coffin" whether this is literal meant in a literal or figurative sense, is up to interpretation.

The scene again changes to a tea shop called "Jarre de Thé." This setting is described simply as having "walled mirrors, each panel framed in red neon" which later in the scene he calls "a cage of red neon," adding a negative connotation to the scenery. Gibson goes on to briefly mention other locations in the story such as stores and attractions along the road, most in little detail.

As the setting jumps once again to the offices of Julius Deane, the descriptions start to become more and more detailed and elaborate. The scene contains descriptions of almost everything in the room, one piece of furniture to the next, from the dust on the bookcases to the "dark green glass" of the "ancient brass lamp". These descriptions not only become more lengthy, but also more straight-forward. They seem to be a simple photographic depiction of the office environment.

In general, the illustrations of cyberspace in the story appear to be far more dark and vague than those of "reality" so to speak. These descriptions seem to be given as in a haze of smoke, darkness, dirt, bright flashes and extreme haste. They provide a stronger sense that this is an entirely different atmosphere, and must be interpreted accordingly.