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

5.0

I enjoyed this collection very much. It captures the atmosphere of the original GitS (manga and anime) while presenting original stories set in the GitS universe.

Every story has its own visual signature and I truly enjoyed it. In terms of narrative all stories are high quality.

To be clear I enjoyed everything that came out related to GitS (yes that includes live action movie too, movie which I find to be criticized heavily by people just because it did not match their own view of existentialist-angst-sf which GiTS for me never was; GitS is standard man-machine-story very much in line with Asimov's works [which is never dark but optimistic one] but lot of people associated their own issues with it) and this collection is truly worthy addition to the series.

Reader will catch glimpse of Major's life before Section 9, how low did mighty fall (the Empire stories) and how intellectual property theft can easily be organized if one is in full control of the creative mind.

And there is very good story about an organic (lets call it like that since protagonist is not augmented at all) trying to help her friend while aware that story wont have the happy end. Story is also good from perspective how people are forced to butcher themselves in order to survive the merciless world around them. It is not story about keeping one soul but story about fighting pressure from society to embed oneself with technology in order to live in the first place (under-skin chips for "ease of" whatever - where does this trend stop and why does everyone need to comply?).

Recommended to SF and especially GitS fans.