quote:

I'm fine with chapter titles being song rips. But actual lines in actual books? Smells of hackery! And I wuvz teh Gibson too much for anything but a tough love approach.

(Because I'm sure he's, personally, quite crushed by my displeasure)

And if Gibson quoted something of yours in one of his books?

At least he steals/lifts/borrows with good taste.

Now, when he starts stealing old Led Zep lyrics or similar pablum...

Kudos to the old fart for even knowing (as we presume he does) of the existence of these lyrics. I didn't.

Kudos to me now for googling and learning that it's "his catastrophic plan", not "a".

But I still don't know whose song contains the "small world" line.

quote:

Originally posted by kenmeer livermaile:

quote:

I'm fine with chapter titles being song rips. But actual lines in actual books? Smells of hackery! And I wuvz teh Gibson too much for anything but a tough love approach.

(Because I'm sure he's, personally, quite crushed by my displeasure)

And if Gibson quoted something of yours in one of his books?

At least he steals/lifts/borrows with good taste.

Now, when he starts stealing old Led Zep lyrics or similar pablum...

Kudos to the old fart for even knowing (as we presume he does) of the existence of these lyrics. I didn't.

Kudos to me now for googling and learning that it's "his catastrophic plan", not "a".

But I still don't know whose song contains the "small world" line.

Sisters of Mercy, Vision Thing:
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/s/sisters+of+mercy/vision+thing_20125688.html

line 6. Like Red Right Hand a very Gibsonian set of visuals I get off that one.

It's true, they are good lines from good songs. And well used....perhaps I'm just disappointed I got the refs (riffs?) is all. ;-)

I find none of these tributes the least bit bothersome. It is a compliment to put into speculative fiction that you think a line or a variation on a line or phrase or term or title will become so completely integral to society that their source will not even need mentioning (think "Catch-22" or "cyberspace"). I too think "first thing you learn is that you always have to wait" and "gentlemen loser" and "everything I've had but couldn't keep" and WG's many other Reed and Fagen/Becker refs SHOULD be up there as general wisdom not everyone will recall the source of. How many times have I said "Stimulants. Central nervous system stimulants. Extremely powerful central nervous system stimulants." like its a litany. If the listener recognizes it, I may have found someone I can talk to. If not, they get the point.