John's Reviews > Sewer, Gas & Electric: The Public Works Trilogy : A Novel
Sewer, Gas & Electric: The Public Works Trilogy : A Novel
by
by
John's review
bookshelves: books-i-own, science-fiction, cyberpunk-post-cyberpunk-fiction
Jan 07, 2012
bookshelves: books-i-own, science-fiction, cyberpunk-post-cyberpunk-fiction
Matt Ruff has written three novels in a literary career spanning nearly two decades; all three are rooted somehow in fantasy and should be regarded as fine examples of speculative fiction. "Sewer, Gas Electric: The Public Works Trilogy" is a dazzling, hilarious cyberpunk adventure set in the New York City of 2023. Ruff conjurs up a bizarre, almost dystopian, view of a near-future New York City laced with the political wisdom of Ayn Rand, who returns, resurrected as a major protagonist in this novel. Multi-billionaire Harry Gant strives to build the tallest building in the world while his ex-wife, Joan Fine, is joined by Ayn Rand, as they wage war against homicidal robots and a sinister conspiracy involving Walt Disney and J. Edgar Hoover, the FBI's legendary first director, within the sewers of Manhattan. Ruff's novel is just as hilarious as Neal Stephenson's "Snow Crash", but quite a bit longer. And not only are there apt comparisons to Stephenson's work here, but I can see some influence from the likes of Thomas Pynchon, Bruce Sterling and William Gibson too. Fans of "Snow Crash" and other cyberpunk fiction will not wish to miss this book. Without question, "Sewer, Gas, Electric: The Public Works Trilogy" is Ruff's splendid sophomore outing, and demonstrates to me why he may be the finest writer ever to have graduated from New York City's prestigious Stuyvesant High School.
(Reposted from my 2004 Amazon review)
(Reposted from my 2004 Amazon review)
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
August 24, 2004
–
Finished Reading
January 7, 2012
– Shelved
January 11, 2012
– Shelved as:
books-i-own
January 11, 2012
– Shelved as:
science-fiction
January 17, 2012
– Shelved as:
cyberpunk-post-cyberpunk-fiction