Introduction to William Gibson’s Neuromancer and the Genre of Science Fiction

1. Introduction to William Gibson’s Neuromancerandthe Genre of Science Fiction Guest Lecture by Lydia Balian

2. Neuromancer and Cyberpunk • Neuromancer is a science fiction novel • In the year it was published, Neuromancer won the Nebula, the Hugo, and the Philip K. Dick awards in science fiction • Has been translated into numerous languages, including Magyar, Japanese, and Danish • Spawned an entire subgenre of science fiction: Cyberpunk • But who is William Gibson and what exactly is science fiction?

3. William Gibson • Brief Biography • Born 1948 • Moved to Vancouver, British Columbia at 19 to avoid the draft for the Vietnam War • Became interested in Sci-Fi literature while working on a degree in English at the University of British Columbia • Published two short stories, “Johnny Mnemonic” and “Burning Chrome” before publishing his first novel, Neuromancer, in 1984 to popular and critical acclaim • Books by William Gibson: Official Website (1, 2)

4. What is science fiction? How is it characterized? • Science fiction is notoriously difficult to define • Numerous sub-genres, such as fantasy or horror • General characteristics include: • Speculation based on current science or technology • Setting in the future or alternate reality • Setting in outer space • Discovery or application of new or futuristic scientific principles, i.e. time travel, nanotechnology, cyborgs, robots, etc. • Molly’s retractable nails (24-25) and other cyborg enhancements

5. Contributing factors to the rise of science fiction • Pulp Publishing • Named for the cheap wood pulp paper it was printed on • Published from the 1920s-1950s • Characteristic of most genre fiction including detective/mystery, western, horror, fantasy/sword and sorcery, and science fiction • Pulp magazines often featured a variety of genres in the same publication (example) • How might Neuromancer qualify as a mixing of these genres?

6. Contributing factors continued. . . • The Paperback Revolution • The paperback novel actually dates back to the early 19th century • Paperback publishing techniques combined with pulp materials creates new publishing revolution • Book binding technique whereby pages are bound with glue rather than stitches or staples • Inexpensive to produce • Audience for pulp magazines diminishes as buyers purchase cheap books • Allowed publication of full length novels in genre fiction • 1940s-today

7. Five Eras of Science Fiction • Pre-Science Fiction • Classic • Golden Age • New Wave and Feminist • Cyberpunk

8. Pre-Science Fiction (to 1926) • Precursors to sci-fi • Mythology • The development of science in the Age of Reason and on through the nineteenth century • Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein • Edgar Allan Poe’s "The Unparalleled Adventures of one Hans Pfaal" • The rise of new technologies such as electricity, the telegraph, and new forms of powered transportation, began to influence writers such as: • Jules Verne (Journey to the Centre of the Earth, From the Earth to the Moon , and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea ) • H. G. Wells (The Time Machine, The War of the Worlds) • The phrase “scientific romance” is used in Britain during the late 19th century to describe this kind of fiction

9. Classic (1926-1937) • Examples of classic science fiction: • Hugo Gernsback created Amazing Stories in 1926 • Previously edited radio and electronics magazines • Began magazine of fiction specifically for popular science enthusiasts • He polls readers for title of genre, with the phrase “science fiction” chosen (other possible titles: “scientific romance” or “scientification”)

10. Golden Age (1937-1950s) • Characteristics: • “Space Opera” • Artificial Intelligence and Mind/Body Split • Examples of “Golden Age” science fiction include: • John W. Campbell and Astounding Science Fiction • Campbell discovers writers who will define the field of science fiction, such as Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, and Theodore Sturgeon • Isaac Asimov • Foundation series and space opera • Ray Bradbury • Martian Chronicles

11. New Wave and Feminist (60s and 70s) • Characteristics • New Wave focus on “inner space” • Experimentation in form and content • 70s sci-fi preoccupied with social themes such as race, gender, and sexuality • 70s sci-fi also concerned with investigating notions of “utopia” versus “dystopia” • Examples of New Wave science fiction include: • New Worlds, edited by Michael Moorcock • J.G. Ballard and inner space

12. Cyberpunk (1980-1991) • Characteristics: • Term cyberpunk coined by Bruce Bethke in short story of the same name in 1980 • Focus on cyberspace, a term coined by Gibson in 1982 • Information technology as central preoccupation • Focus on the marginalized and dispossessed (“outlaw zones,” 11 and depiction of Zion, 103-104) • Punk as worldview and writing style: disenchantment with corporations, government corruption, surveillance technology • Examples of cyberpunk include: • Gibson’s “Johnny Mnemonic,” “Gernsback Continuum,” “Burning Chrome,” and Neuromancer • Cyberspace in Neuromancer • “A year here and he still dreamed of cyberspace...”(4-5)

13. Effects of Science Fiction • Manovich’s new media principle of transcoding and the effects of science fiction on society and vice versa • Innovation and technology • Various media forms: literature, art, film (Keanu Reeves in Johnny Mnemonic), television (Star Trek 1, 2 and Firefly 1), computer games (Neuromancer video game) • Science fiction community • Conventions • Clubs • Organizations • Fan fiction

14. Where do we go from here?The future of science fiction… • If artistic creations are a response to our life and times, how do you think artists will respond in the future? • Environment • Biotechnology • Nanotechnology • How will science fiction continue to influence society?

15. References “Science Fiction.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 20 May 2007 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_fiction “Neuromancer.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 20 May 2007 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuromancer Brouillette, Sarah. “Corporate Publishing and Canonization: Neuromancer and Science-Fiction Publishing in the 1970s and Early 1980s.” Book History 5 (2002): 187-208.