Seamless Transistion

The transistion from speculative fiction to mainstream was effortless in this watershed novel. Gibson loses none of his edge or quicksilver dynamic in this novel about a coolhunter,9/11 intertwined with industrial espionage.  Read it.

The only weapon banned by the Catholic Church

This weapon was banned by Pope Innocent the II for use against  Christians. Before the introduction of the arbalest a mounted knight could pretty much mow down foot soilders at will. But armed with a crossbow a comon foot soilder drop a mounted night with ease. This presented a conundrum for the Church since the cash flowed from the nobility. So you could draw,quarter burn alive and otherwise create any mayhem you could imagine. But stick a bolt in some armored miscreant you were going to Hell. Unless he wasn't Christian or noble(no cash see)