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Goliath
Free online fiction, short story.
Originally posted on Warner Brothers' "The Matrix" website.
I suppose that I could claim that I had always suspected that the world was a cheap and shoddy sham, a bad cover for something deeper and weirder and infinitely more strange, and that, in some way, I already knew the truth.
Originally posted on Warner Brothers' "The Matrix" website.
I suppose that I could claim that I had always suspected that the world was a cheap and shoddy sham, a bad cover for something deeper and weirder and infinitely more strange, and that, in some way, I already knew the truth.
6 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 1998
3 people are currently reading
269 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
March 10, 2016
Neko je gledo Matrix pa dobio ideju koju je norao da izbaci iz sistema :P
Interesantno stivo sa finim konceptom. Za Gaiman fanove odlicno za ostalo malo kratko.
Interesantno stivo sa finim konceptom. Za Gaiman fanove odlicno za ostalo malo kratko.
September 16, 2024
Neil Gaiman, they could never make me like you.
February 25, 2018
A Matrix-like short story. It's quite good, short, & interesting, but chilling. It's free here:
https://www.slideshare.net/4ng3r1/01-...
Well worth reading. Thank you Randy for turning me on to it in the Short Story topic in the "Evolution of Science Fiction" group.
https://www.slideshare.net/4ng3r1/01-...
Well worth reading. Thank you Randy for turning me on to it in the Short Story topic in the "Evolution of Science Fiction" group.
July 20, 2019
TL; DR: Goliath was a treat. If you're a fan of The Matrix or Neil Gaiman, read this. If you're a fan of both, read this immediately.
* * * * *
In 1999, Warner Brothers got in touch with Neil Gaiman to write a short story to help explain, and promote, to audiences this movie they were making, a movie destined to be the coolest and biggest hit of the year, a movie called The Matrix.
Warner Bros. gave him the script and some storyboards, let Neil do his thing, and posted the result, Goliath, online on whatisthematrix.com. And twenty years later, I came to the conclusion this Internets thing wasn't a fad, logged online, and I found Goliath.
Goliath, though set in The Matrix, is a standalone story. None of the characters from the movie makes an appearance. It explores some of the themes of the movie, namely simulated realities and human beings being exploited by the machines for processing power (as per the original script), but ultimately, it is Neil Gaiman's perception of what is the Matrix before the Wachowskis' vision was finalized onscreen (with amazing editing, special effects, and everybody kung fu fighting). I wish more studios did this more often, having authors "cover" the movie before releasing it in theaters.
* * * * *
In 1999, Warner Brothers got in touch with Neil Gaiman to write a short story to help explain, and promote, to audiences this movie they were making, a movie destined to be the coolest and biggest hit of the year, a movie called The Matrix.
Warner Bros. gave him the script and some storyboards, let Neil do his thing, and posted the result, Goliath, online on whatisthematrix.com. And twenty years later, I came to the conclusion this Internets thing wasn't a fad, logged online, and I found Goliath.
Goliath, though set in The Matrix, is a standalone story. None of the characters from the movie makes an appearance. It explores some of the themes of the movie, namely simulated realities and human beings being exploited by the machines for processing power (as per the original script), but ultimately, it is Neil Gaiman's perception of what is the Matrix before the Wachowskis' vision was finalized onscreen (with amazing editing, special effects, and everybody kung fu fighting). I wish more studios did this more often, having authors "cover" the movie before releasing it in theaters.
October 30, 2020
Goliath pulled me in quickly and had me desperate to see how the pieces came together. It was intriguing, and the ending did not play out the way I’d anticipated. It more than hit the spot, making it perfect for quick reading. In fact, this is one of my favourite short stories from Neil Gaiman – one that is perfect for fans, or as an insight into his writing.
August 16, 2019
A short story based on the movie “Matrix”. It was interesting.
“They may be heartless, unfeeling, computerized bastards, leeching off the minds of what’s left of humanity. But I can’t help feeling grateful to them. “
“They may be heartless, unfeeling, computerized bastards, leeching off the minds of what’s left of humanity. But I can’t help feeling grateful to them. “
March 2, 2021
Un racconto che nasce per pubblicizzare il film “ Matrix”.
Un divertissement sulla possibilità che quella che viviamo non sia l’unica vita, l’unico momento possibile, che il Tempo sia in qualche modo un nastro da far scorrere avanti o indietro da Qualcuno di superiore alla singola unità.
Un divertissement sulla possibilità che quella che viviamo non sia l’unica vita, l’unico momento possibile, che il Tempo sia in qualche modo un nastro da far scorrere avanti o indietro da Qualcuno di superiore alla singola unità.
December 26, 2021
Ótimo conto inspirado no roteiro original de Matrix. Daria uma bela esquete de animação para o Animatrix!
June 25, 2022
Goliath by Neil Gaiman is a short story which I've been meaning to read for a while now. Seeing as how I'm in my Matrix revisit phase, and going through all pieces of the extensive and engaging role, It's as good as time as any to have read it.
Gaiman crafting a story based off of the ideas from Wachowski's extended excerpts for the Matrix lore; so much talent collaborated into this short work.
Gaiman goes to show, yet again that good writing doesn't need hundreds of pages and overbearing plot and characters to keep you engaged. Then again you only would start reading this story, if you are already familiar with the three movies, So...
Goliath, is a short yet engaging read, because it injects some new elements into the established settings of the Grander narrative. Most stories of the genre focus on the cyberpunk aesthetic, as well as the AI-human conflict and themes similar to Ghost in the Shell & Bladerunner. The Creator overtaking and replacing the creators and forging a new world order, and so on.
This narrative, something which shifts from within the matrix to the real world from page to page, introduces a new player, or rather threat, common to both machines & humans.
The Machine empire is under attack from an external alien invader, one who has been subjecting the planet to orbital bombardment, which threatens to wipe out the entire human fields, and along with it, the fuel source of the synthetics.
So the AI, with its characteristic indifference, efficiency and single minded focus, sets about formulating a solution; with the aid of an unwitting participant of the matrix. Even though they might not have know it, humans and AI unite, if only for a brief instance, to face a common threat.
Gaiman crafting a story based off of the ideas from Wachowski's extended excerpts for the Matrix lore; so much talent collaborated into this short work.
Gaiman goes to show, yet again that good writing doesn't need hundreds of pages and overbearing plot and characters to keep you engaged. Then again you only would start reading this story, if you are already familiar with the three movies, So...
Goliath, is a short yet engaging read, because it injects some new elements into the established settings of the Grander narrative. Most stories of the genre focus on the cyberpunk aesthetic, as well as the AI-human conflict and themes similar to Ghost in the Shell & Bladerunner. The Creator overtaking and replacing the creators and forging a new world order, and so on.
This narrative, something which shifts from within the matrix to the real world from page to page, introduces a new player, or rather threat, common to both machines & humans.
The Machine empire is under attack from an external alien invader, one who has been subjecting the planet to orbital bombardment, which threatens to wipe out the entire human fields, and along with it, the fuel source of the synthetics.
So the AI, with its characteristic indifference, efficiency and single minded focus, sets about formulating a solution; with the aid of an unwitting participant of the matrix. Even though they might not have know it, humans and AI unite, if only for a brief instance, to face a common threat.
May 21, 2018
Amazing, very human story set in the Matrix universe. It's amazing how Gaiman is able to write such page turners with actual depth. Anyone that liked Matrix 1 will definitely love this one.
September 26, 2014
When Mr Gaiman puts his mind to it, he writes wonderful stories. This short story brought so much realness to the Matrix world.
Such a sad and beautiful story. Wish they'd put it as part of the Animatrix.
Such a sad and beautiful story. Wish they'd put it as part of the Animatrix.
March 31, 2021
Short story from Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders about a man's belief that the world isn't what we think it is, originally posted on Warner Brothers' "The Matrix" website.
In fiction, I think I would have refused to believe it was happening, wonder if I'd been drugged or if I was dreaming. In reality, hell, it had happened, and I stared up into the darkness, and then, when nothing happened, I began to walk, splashing through the liquid world, calling out, seeing if anyone was there.
There are so many elements in this story that feed into the Matrix movie, and yet, by itself, this was a compelling story with a great ending about how one's choices define one's life.
In fiction, I think I would have refused to believe it was happening, wonder if I'd been drugged or if I was dreaming. In reality, hell, it had happened, and I stared up into the darkness, and then, when nothing happened, I began to walk, splashing through the liquid world, calling out, seeing if anyone was there.
There are so many elements in this story that feed into the Matrix movie, and yet, by itself, this was a compelling story with a great ending about how one's choices define one's life.
December 29, 2024
A different angle of the world of the The Matrix. I found this kind of refreshing. It dealt with the system of The Matrix without going into the same territory as you might expect.
An external threat to both "masters" and "slaves" requires a very brief moment of cooperation, if you want to call it that.
The only real downfall of the story is that we know it is written for The Matrix. It is set in that "world." This dampens the ending a bit. The ending, as it is, leaves a bit of an opening for the narrator to maybe just be crazy or hallucinating. You get the impression that his family will read his letter one day and, instead of realizing the world is artificial, go, "wtf was wrong with this poor soul?" But because we know the "world" of The Matrix is canon, we lose that edge to the story. There is zero chance he hallucinated, and he did, in fact, leave the simulation long enough to fight aliens.
An external threat to both "masters" and "slaves" requires a very brief moment of cooperation, if you want to call it that.
The only real downfall of the story is that we know it is written for The Matrix. It is set in that "world." This dampens the ending a bit. The ending, as it is, leaves a bit of an opening for the narrator to maybe just be crazy or hallucinating. You get the impression that his family will read his letter one day and, instead of realizing the world is artificial, go, "wtf was wrong with this poor soul?" But because we know the "world" of The Matrix is canon, we lose that edge to the story. There is zero chance he hallucinated, and he did, in fact, leave the simulation long enough to fight aliens.
December 9, 2018
Muy grato descubrir ahora este relato corto de Gaiman sobre una persona viviendo en Matrix. Se publicó en la página web de la película antes de que esta saliera, y como curiosidad, muestra una idea previa del guión en el que las personas no eran usadas como baterías sino como CPU colectiva, con conexión a lo p2p.
Se lee en un momento y está muy interesante.
http://web.archive.org/web/2004061603...
Se lee en un momento y está muy interesante.
http://web.archive.org/web/2004061603...
January 27, 2020
Interesting idea. Had no clue Gaiman wrote a Matrix related story. I always preferred Animatrix, which this short story reminded me of, over the sequels. Goliath is a quick read. Recommended for fans of Matrix and Gaiman.
June 13, 2024
Ця історія змусила мене подивитися Матрицю, за що я реально вдячна, бо ніяк не могла до неї дійти.
Загалом, історія непогана, але я не дуже люблю фантастику, тому не можу оцінити справедливо. Гейман пише класно, але перекладати його цікавіше)
Загалом, історія непогана, але я не дуже люблю фантастику, тому не можу оцінити справедливо. Гейман пише класно, але перекладати його цікавіше)
August 12, 2018
A short story set in the Matrix universe. Interesting and entertaining.
July 19, 2019
The matrix revisited mixed with a small dash of groundhog Day.
May 18, 2020
Its a very short, short story that reminded me of many long films like INCEPTION, INTERSTELLAR etc
August 8, 2021
Awesome storytelling
September 10, 2021
The Matrix Resurrected trailer dropped today, which was the imputes for me seeking out this gem of a short story. A totally riveting and haunting movie tie-in. I loved it.
June 20, 2024
It was nice :3
September 9, 2022
A teaser of some of the ideas that went into making the Matrix. Quick but insubstantial.
January 11, 2025
Goliath by Neil Gaiman
Read with the book club. This one was meh.
I'm not a huge fan of The Matrix but was still hyped to check out a work "set" in the universe. Alas, it wasn't much of interest. In the club, we discussed the unusual development of machines and humans working together, or the entirety of the story being a fantasy. But even with such interpretations, I still find Goliath boring.
The prose was good, though. Especially when used to show the universe glitching.
Read with the book club. This one was meh.
I'm not a huge fan of The Matrix but was still hyped to check out a work "set" in the universe. Alas, it wasn't much of interest. In the club, we discussed the unusual development of machines and humans working together, or the entirety of the story being a fantasy. But even with such interpretations, I still find Goliath boring.
The prose was good, though. Especially when used to show the universe glitching.
September 21, 2014
Small book but so cleaver. I love the way Neil Gaiman write.
September 13, 2024
Es un cuento muy breve ambientado en el universo de the matrix sin embargo me recuerda mucho a los cuentos de Stanislaw Lem, es muy sencillo de leer y fácil de imaginar lo que está sucediendo ya que conocemos las cosas que describe por las películas, es entretenido y con una historia que va un paso más allá de las máquinas de the matrix, de lectura rápida (menos de media hora)
April 29, 2022
I fine little story. The story about the story is perhaps more interesting.
March 18, 2014
A little repetitive and short, but still great.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews