In Pattern Recognition, there are many references to the internet and social commentary on the post 9/11 mindset of people. In the book there are two major scenes that bring up the latter subject. One is when Cayce returns to her home to find that Dorotea has broken into her home and left a message for her on her computer and phone. She then proceeds to block up the home until she can get locks replaced on the door. The other is when she walks by a car with three guys standing around it and notices black objects, which she immediately assumes are grenades. In our oversensitive, much prolonged, state of panic, these events cause a violent reaction of fear to run through us. It is very easy, in today’s world, to picture a trunk full of bombs, or a burglar in our home. Gibson is making a subtle statement about our fear of terrorists. The trunk full of bombs is even a scaled down reference to our invading Iraq. We thought they had weapons of mass destruction, but they didn’t. Just as Cayce thought those men had grenades, but they didn’t. Gibson also comments on the internet and social networking. He’s revealing the ridiculousness of having a friend you’ve never met and the outbursts of viral videos.
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