Cyberpunk and Cyberculture : Science Fiction and the Work of William Gibson

Cyberpunk is the fiction of a culture saturated by electronic technology. Its vocabulary is the language of cybernetics, biotechnology, corporational greed and urban subcultures. Massively succesful in both book and film form, cyberpunk has redefined not only contemporary science fiction but also, through its capacity to anticipate "technology" and its cultural impact, analytical work in the social science and humanities. This text explores the work of a wide range of writers, setting their work in the context of science fiction, other literary genres, genre cinema and contemporary work on the culture of technology. Seven main themes are addressed: the impact of virtual technologies on identity, space and community; the interplay of technological and mythological motifs; reconfigurations of the body initiated by technoscience; issues of gender and sexuality; the siginificance of the sprawling megacity; cyberpunk's Gothic traits of monstrosity, transgresison and social unrest; and the editing of history and memory. Cyberpunk is the fiction of a culture saturated by electronic technology. Its vocabulary is the language of cybernetics, biotechnology, corporational greed and urban subcultures. Massively successful in both book and film form, cyberpunk has redefined not only contemporary science fiction but also, through its capacity to anticipate technology and its cultural impact, analytical work in the social sciences and humanities.Cyberpunk and Cyberculture explores the work of a wide range of writers -- Acker, Cadigan, Rucker, Shirley, Sterling, Williams and, of course, Gibson -- setting their work in the context of science fiction, other literary genres, genre cinema -- from Metropolis to Terminator to The Matrix -- and contemporary work on the culture of technology.Seven main themes are addressed: the impact of virtual technologies on identity, space and community; the interplay of technological and mythological motifs; reconfigurations of the body initiated by technoscience; issues of gender and sexuality; the significance of the sprawling megacity; cyberpunk's Gothic traits of monstrosity; transgression and social unrest; and the editing of history and memory. This is a major effort to address how present day culture has been impacted by a new generation as well as a new technology. Cover......Page 1 Copyright......Page 6 Contents......Page 9 Preface......Page 11 A brief guide to the book......Page 19 Introduction: Science fiction and cyberpunk......Page 25 1 Cyberpunk and virtual technologies......Page 50 Technology and mythology: origins......Page 65 Cyborgs......Page 68 Myth and religion in cyberpunk......Page 76 Fiction, theory and the language of science......Page 87 The cyberbody......Page 96 Idoru: the body as personality construct......Page 103 The ghost......Page 107 The stranger......Page 112 Burning Chrome and Mona Lisa Overdrive: the body as commodity......Page 116 The doll......Page 129 Technologies of the gendered subject......Page 133 Gender roles in cyberpunk......Page 145 Virtual sex......Page 150 5 Cyberpunk and the city......Page 157 Science and space......Page 158 Digital maps: ON/OFF......Page 164 Venice......Page 170 Space and narrative structure......Page 174 6 Cyberpunk and the Gothic......Page 188 The uncanny......Page 191 Layering and architecture......Page 196 Families......Page 208 Fashion......Page 217 Time zones......Page 222 Epilogue: Cyberpunk and memory......Page 228 References......Page 239 Guide to further reading......Page 261 Bibliography......Page 265 Index......Page 275 This Text Explores And Analyses The Work Of A Wide Range Of Writers, Setting Their Work In The Context Of Science Fiction, Other Literary Genres, Genre Cinema And Contemporary Work On The Culture Of Technology. Preface -- A Brief Guide To The Book Introduction: Science Fiction And Cyberpunk -- 1 Cyberpunk And Virtual Technologies -- 2 Cyberpunk, Technology And Mythology Technology And Mythology: Origins Cyborgs -- Myth And Religion In Cyberpunk Fiction, Theory And The Language Of Science -- 3 Cyberpunk And The Body The Cyberbody Idoru: The Body As Personality Construct The Ghost The Stranger Burning Chrome And Mona Lisa Overdrive: The Body As Commodity The Doll -- 4 Cyberpunk, Gender And Sexuality Technologies Of The Gendered Subject Gender Roles In Cyberpunk Virtual Sex -- 5 Cyberpunk And The City Science And Space Digital Maps: On/off -- Venice -- Space And Narrative Structure -- 6 Cyberpunk And The Gothic -- The Uncanny Layering And Architecture Families Fashion -- Time Zones Epilogue: Cyberpunk And Memory. Dani Cavallaro. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 241-249) And Index. Includes Filmography: P. 250. Cover 1 Copyright 6 Contents 9 Preface 11 A brief guide to the book 19 Introduction: Science fiction and cyberpunk 25 1 Cyberpunk and virtual technologies 50 2 Cyberpunk, technology and mythology 65 Technology and mythology: origins 65 Cyborgs 68 Myth and religion in cyberpunk 76 Fiction, theory and the language of science 87 3 Cyberpunk and the body 96 The cyberbody 96 Idoru: the body as personality construct 103 The ghost 107 The stranger 112 Burning Chrome and Mona Lisa Overdrive: the body as commodity 116 The doll 129 4 Cyberpunk, gender and sexuality 133 Technologies of the gendered subject 133 Gender roles in cyberpunk 145 Virtual sex 150 5 Cyberpunk and the city 157 Science and space 158 Digital maps: ON/OFF 164 Venice 170 Space and narrative structure 174 6 Cyberpunk and the Gothic 188 The uncanny 191 Layering and architecture 196 Families 208 Fashion 217 Time zones 222 Epilogue: Cyberpunk and memory 228 References 239 Guide to further reading 261 Bibliography 265 Index 275 9780485006070,9781847140357

Cyberpunk and Cyberculture explores the work of a wide range of writers- Acker, Cadigan, Rucker, Shierley, Sterling, Williams and, of course, Gibson - setting their work in the context of science fiction, other literary genres, genre cinema - from Metropolis to Terminator to The Matrix - and contemporary work on the culture of technology.