In Virtual light, there is a part where in some sort of a club a song from our present is being played. It is a song from a guy who was black, then became white, then his face fell apart...

Guess this is obviously Mr. King of Pop Jacko.

In Idoru, the Musicmaster of Virtual Venice had a beta version, but there were legal complications because he too closely resembled a famous singer. The character then was made more genereic, mainly by replacing ONE of his eyes.

Correct me if I`m wrong, but this seemed like Bowie to me.

I have to admit these small references to our present were some of the most impressive parts of WGs books. It made me feel like the world of the book is a very realistic future version of our own. It`s the same as taking a new technology, and describing it`s full impact on society, on everydays, on our lives. But these feel even more bold, personal, vivid.

Can you guys remember a few more such references?

There something in Idoru or VL (damn... or was it in something earlier... aaah, brain rot...) about a famous actor that went into politics and then had his bones replaced with metal... Scharzenneger (sp?), anyone..?

I think it is this aspect of Gibson's style that makes it seem so plausible. Little bits of things, the characters barely remember from their childhood, or off hand explanations of the underlying backdrop of the the characters present time, as if the author was just referencing pop culture, things the majority of people would know, but no winking at the audience and trying to explain any of it. Hmmm... I think this is what makes Star Wars: A New Hope so interesting. The audience is just sort of thrown into the middle of all this shit happening, with no explanation. It adds a sense of depth to the created universe. There's also some tension because when things are left unexplained it's easier to be caught by surprise when the story twists in a new direction.