Read a Good Ass Book

As long as you like it

LUARDE MONTANO CANCEL

Even though I fancy myself a writer, the truth is that I have a chronic inability to sit my ass down and actually read a book. Not for lack of trying, I have picked up a lot of books, many of which are considered classics or almost universally-beloved books: sci-fi epic “Dune,” G.R.R Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire,” dystopians like “I Who Have Never Known Men” and “1984,” horror books like “Strange Pictures,” and even westerns like “Blood Meridian.” For some reason or another, I struggle to commit to reading. One day in the midst of a bout of procrastination scrolling through Reddit, I stumbled upon a thread on Cyberpunk genre books; one in specific was mentioned a lot, and criticized just as much, “Neuromancer.”

I don’t know if it was the name that drew me in, or the fact that I was already well acquainted with the genre through my copious amounts of hours on “Cyberpunk 2077,” but I felt compelled to give the book a shot despite the complaints about it leaving too much to the imagination and leaving too many gaps for the reader to fill. I loved the book, and for the first time in a long time I finished a book by myself (at least one not assigned by a professor). “Neuromancer” was by no means an easy read, the book forced me outside of my comfort zone. I had to force myself to read through parts I struggled to understand and go back when I needed to reread a portion. The effort however was worth it. I was able to immerse myself in this futuristic, corporate hellscape set in the near future; where corporations hold more power over governments than ever, and violence and reckless consumerism are what the world runs on. Maybe the future is nearer than it seems, minus the cool tech.

Reading this book sort of reinvigorated my love for writing at a time where I felt that maybe I had picked the wrong path, and sent me down a rabbit hole that has introduced me to some of my favorite media, including “Ghost in the Shell,” the rest of the “Sprawl” trilogy, “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep,” and many others. It feels like “Neuromancer” opened doors for me. Sci-fi to me always felt disconnected from “real literature” which, to me, was just classic fiction; Science fiction was just cool worlds and fun worldbuilding that I just found entertaining. I know I’m not alone in this. Many of my friends see science fiction the same way, often citing real literature as the books that you hear about everywhere like “Ulysses” and “Crime and Punishment.” I’ve known these guys forever, and I know that like me they love sci-fi books, but the perception of them being just for entertainment makes them be considered lesser.

Often it felt that the stories I wrote seemed inconsequential, that those science fiction short writings of mine were bad compared to the fiction that was relevant to our current moment I saw my peers write. This book changed that for me too, it made me feel like I could tackle issues that I saw my peers tackle while still writing about crazy chromed-up cyborgs and neon cities. I have now written so much more than I ever did, much better than I had before, and I enjoy myself while writing more. I write different science fiction scenarios about artificial intelligence that seem closer and closer every day. I write about over-reliance on technology, human connection, or separation because of the internet and social media. I can do this through the lens of science fiction, and it has just as much value as other fiction does. The attitude of science fiction being inherently less serious than classic fiction only turns writers away from a genre with so much potential.

“Neuromancer” and “Cyberpunk” are not for everyone of course. I’m not saying that if you read this book you will have some epiphany and renewed love for writing or reading. It is a very specific kind of writing that is not for everyone. What I am saying however is that if, like me, it is hard for you to read, sit down and focus on a book. Keep trying. If physical books don’t work, use your phone; if that doesn’t, get an e-reader. If fantasy doesn’t catch your attention, try a thriller, or a dystopia, or even smut if you are into that. There will be something you will like. Just try, read a good ass book, and it just might change your life.