This is not to say that it is without its faults. Like most dystopian stories, the antagonists are tremendously two-dimensional and there are plot holes that one could fly a starship through (and there are plenty of starships--virtual ones--in this story). I also found some of the underlying philosophies disturbingly pessimistic with some ideas that are a presented in a bit to "preachy" of a manner. Yet my largest issue was the from the gaps in the geek culture of the time. While the author probably had these omissions as a way to avoid litigation, I could feel their absence clearly as I was reading.
All told, it was an exciting story that was thought-provoking in ways that made me both look forward to the future and back to my own youth. As messed up as our future world is portrayed, I also enjoyed my time in it. I recommend it to anyone with a love for science fiction and fond memories of enjoying geek culture in the 80s.