Pattern Recognition (novel)

Pattern Recognition is a 2003 science fiction novel by William Gibson. It is the first book in the Blue Ant trilogy, followed by Spook Country (2007) and Zero History (2010). The novel is set in the near future, primarily in London, Tokyo, and Moscow.

The story revolves around Cayce Pollard, a marketing consultant who has a rare sensitivity to commercial branding, sometimes experiencing physical reactions to logos and corporate symbols. She is hired to track down the source of mysterious film clips that are appearing anonymously on the internet, known as "the footage" or "the fragments."

As Cayce delves deeper into the search, she becomes entangled in a complex web of rival collectors, geopolitical intrigue, and the emerging subculture surrounding the internet and visual media. The novel explores themes of consumerism, media obsession, cultural memory, and the impact of technology on identity and perception. It also examines the nature of online communities and the power of collective intelligence. The narrative reflects Gibson's characteristic style, incorporating cyberpunk elements with a focus on contemporary trends and anxieties.