A review by eely225
The Ghost in the Shell: Global Neural Network by Alex de Campi, Brenden Fletcher, Max Gladstone

4.0

A collection of Western writers and artists offering their own interpretations of one of the definitive franchises in Japanese sci-fi, it is perhaps most interesting when viewed less as chapters in the GitS universe, but rather as an examination of Western imaginations about the Japanese product. I imagine it was not accidental that the first three chapters all dealt with how America and Americans fit in to the world of Section 9, with the third going so far as to write out the Major and co altogether. The last chapter then reassesses the Major as a cultural icon, whether she can be seen as a singular character or a collection of personages that are, to some degree, in conflict. This might be a particularly Western concern with understanding non-linear storytelling, one that, while respected, must be addressed directly instead of simply allowed to stand and interpreted on its own.

I think the book, as a whole, merits revisiting. The third chapter did not grab me, as it was perhaps more interested in worldbuilding for elements that have no real role in the franchise (i.e. the post-war division of America) and did not connect it to section 9. But if you're comfortable skimming one chapter, the rest is more than worth checking out, particularly for Western fans of the franchise.