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From: miodeen@buddha.ncc.umn.edu (Mike Odeen)
Newsgroups: comp.arch,rec.arts.sf-lovers,alt.cyberpunk
Subject: Re: Count Zero Interrupt
Keywords: interrupt, zero, counter
Message-ID: <1527@buddha.ncc.umn.edu>
Date: 11 Nov 90 19:02:25 GMT
References: <1427@carol.fwi.uva.nl> <4bC2VW600VIE094FUA@andrew.cmu.edu> <9438@fy.sei.cmu.edu> <1990Nov10.002854.14069@dce.ie> <1990Nov10.144425.11230@idayton.field.intel.com>
Reply-To: miodeen@buddha.ncc.umn.edu (Mike Odeen)
Followup-To: comp.arch
Organization: University of Minnesota, Nutrition Coordinating Center
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Currently an English major and Gibson reader, myself, I'd like to respond to
Jim Fister's comment on Count Zero.

COUNT ZERO INTERRUPT--On receiving an interrupt, decrement the count to zero.

References to computer jargon aside, a literal reading of the line might be:

When you are interrupted, start over.

This is a very stong thematic element throughout the novel.  The three stories
woven through the novel recount how each character's life is somehow
dramatically interrupted, and subsequently how the characters must begin
their lives anew.  Everyone of the characters is given an interrupt, forced
to go back to "zero".  They must reevaluate their own identities, how they 
view the world, what they expect out of life and where they are going.

These kinds of crisisses face all of the major characters: Turner--a number
of times, Bobby, Marley, and to some extent Angela Mitchell.

I enjoy this kind of discussion of Gibson's work, a body which lends itself
well to thoughtful criticism, and look forward to future discussions of his 
work in thisd forum.



-- 
Michael J. Odeen
miodeen@buddha.ncc.umn.edu