Gibson's Latest: Design, Tech, and the Crisis of Identity

William Gibson's new sci-fi novel, *The Peripheral*, explores how rampant materialism, technology, and design challenge the very meaning of personhood. Critic Justin McGuirk argues that the future Gibson depicts isn't fiction, its roots are already firmly planted in our reality. The novel uses detailed descriptions of brands, consumer goods, and technological gadgets to reveal the complexities and contradictions of consumerism in a late-capitalist society, and the struggle for self-identity in an increasingly homogenous world. Ultimately, advanced technology blurs the lines between virtual and real, leading to a questioning of human identity and prompting profound reflections on the future. Tech category.