All Tomorrow's Parties: Gibson's Purpose

It is more than likely that William Gibson had some alternate motive other than profit when composing All Tomorrow's Parties. The world described in the novel is one that is very differant from that of today's and the immense differances can be said to create awareness towards certain aspects of modern society. Gibson illuminates many problems within today's society but it seems one of the major differances between reality and All Tomorrow's Parties' reality is that of social and moral degradation, an issue that he puts much emphasis on. The openning chapters describe this high-tech world that is spotted with homelessness, poverty and prolific use of drugs. However unusual to the audience, it seems to be a norm to the people of All Tomorrow's Parties; the homeless go unnoticed and the drug usage is socially accepted. Although these differances seem remote, Gibson tries to suggest that today's society, although not completely submerged in the social and moral degradation, is in fact on the same path as the society in All Tomorrow's Parties. His immplied audience is one that lives in a somewhat socially responsible community, one which still cares for the homeless and the poor. However, many in today's society are still blind to the social issues that plauge their community and by comparing the real world with Gibson's fictional world, readers begin to understand the importance of social awareness. Small steps towards the same social degradation go unnoticed by people in today's society but with time would eventually lead to a world similar to that of All Tomorrow's Parties; a world where the homeless are left to be as they are and all perception of time is lost in the vast world of cyberspace and drugs.