"Night City was like a deranged experiment in social Darwinism" (Simile)
In comparing Night City to an experiment in social Darwinism, this simile emphasizes the competitive nature of life in Night City, where only the strongest and most adept hustlers are able to survive its intensity. Social Darwinism stipulates that only the "fittest" members of a species will survive environmental or external forces.
"Poisoned silver sky" (Metaphor)
While in cyberspace, Case describes the sky as "poisoned," highlighting the corrupted and dangerous nature of the cyber world in which he finds himself. Cyberspace, despite its appeal, is unnatural and lures Case in.
"Twist a man far enough" (Metaphor)
Case describes what Wintermute did to Armitage as "twisting," using a physical metaphor to convey the forceful control and manipulation Wintermute exercised over Armitage that eventually led him to break down and lose the Armitage persona. Too much "twisting" caused Armitage to break, revealing the underlying psyche: Colonel Willis Corto.
"He'd watched her personality fragment, calving like an iceberg" (Simile)
Linda Lee's drug use is described as causing her to split apart like an iceberg, a simile that conveys the violent nature of her addiction as it calls to mind splintering shards of ice and destruction.
