[orig. by SF writer Bruce Bethke and/or editor Gardner Dozois] A
subgenre of SF launched in 1982 by William Gibson's epoch-making
novel Neuromancer (though its roots go back through Vernor Vinge's
True Names (see the Bibliography in Appendix C) to John Brunner's
1975 novel The Shockwave Rider). Gibson's near-total ignorance of
computers and the present-day hacker culture enabled him to speculate
about the role of computers and hackers in the future in ways hackers
have since found both irritatingly naïve and tremendously
stimulating. Gibson's work was widely imitated, in particular by the
short-lived but innovative Max Headroom TV series. See {cyberspace},
{ice}, {jack in}, {go flatline}.
Since 1990 or so, popular culture has included a movement or fashion
trend that calls itself `cyberpunk', associated especially with the
rave/techno subculture. Hackers have mixed feelings about this. On
the one hand, self-described cyberpunks too often seem to be shallow
trendoids in black leather who have substituted enthusiastic
blathering about technology for actually learning and doing it.
Attitude is no substitute for competence. On the other hand, at least
cyberpunks are excited about the right things and properly respectful
of hacking talent in those who have it. The general consensus is to
tolerate them politely in hopes that they'll attract people who grow
into being true hackers.
[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {cowboy}{cyberspace}{cypherpunk}{jack in}{samurai}{science-fiction fandom}]