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I think Neuromancer aged better than a lot of sci fi. Gibson didn't go into technical details, which is a blessing when you deal with early 80s computer tech.

I think Neuromancer aged better than a lot of sci fi. Gibson didn't go into technical details, which is a blessing when you deal with early 80s computer tech. Incidentally a lot of cyberpunk feels off in 2018. Nobody seemed to forecast the rise of China.

snowwrestler 8y ago
In general, a lot of well-known cyberpunk seems to have underestimated governments--their competence, power, longevity, and reach. China features prominently in The Diamond Age as a location, but not as a powerful, cohesive, oppressive, incredibly successful authoritarian government. It's sort of a laughing stock in Snow Crash, and barely present in Neuromancer. Despite its reputation for being darkly cynical, I think we can look back now and see that cyberpunk as a genre was essentially optimistic about the power of computing technology--optimistic that it would indeed radically change power structures, society, and our relationship with governments. Instead what we see today is not that different from this time 100 years ago: super rich oligarchs controlling much of the economy, rising racism and bigotry, authoritarians using new technologies to seize power and splinter their opposition.
- cfadvan 8y ago
  To be fair, Snow Crash has megacorps, oligarchs like L. Bob Rife and David, racism galore (New South Africa franchlettes anyone?) and the plot is literally all about using tech to seize power and splinter opposition. The whole system of FOQNE’s seems massively geared to cater to populist impulses, with the exception of Mr. Lee’s Greater Hong Kong. It also neatly foresaw the role of self-sustaining media frenzy, increasingly stagnant economic prospects for most, and the resulting insularity and small-mindedness of much of society. It also nailed the gig economy.
scruffyherder 8y ago
Are you sure? > "The Chinese," bellowed a drunken Australian, "Chinese bloody invented nerve-splicing. Give me the mainland for a nerve job any day. Fix you right, mate . . ." > "Now that," Case said to his glass, all his bitterness suddenly rising in him like bile, "that is so much bullshit." > The Japanese had already forgotten more neurosurgery than the Chinese had ever known. The black clinics of Chiba were the cutting edge, whole bodies of technique supplanted monthly, and still they couldn’t repair the damage he’d suffered in that Memphis hotel. https://archive.org/stream/NeuromancerWilliamGibson/Neuromancer%20-%20William%20Gibson_djvu.txt https://archive.org/stream/NeuromancerWilliamGibson/Neuroman...

snowwrestler 8y ago

In general, a lot of well-known cyberpunk seems to have underestimated governments--their competence, power, longevity, and reach. China features prominently in The Diamond Age as a location, but not as a powerful, cohesive, oppressive, incredibly successful authoritarian government. It's sort of a laughing stock in Snow Crash, and barely present in Neuromancer. Despite its reputation for being darkly cynical, I think we can look back now and see that cyberpunk as a genre was essentially optimistic about the power of computing technology--optimistic that it would indeed radically change power structures, society, and our relationship with governments. Instead what we see today is not that different from this time 100 years ago: super rich oligarchs controlling much of the economy, rising racism and bigotry, authoritarians using new technologies to seize power and splinter their opposition.

cfadvan 8y ago
To be fair, Snow Crash has megacorps, oligarchs like L. Bob Rife and David, racism galore (New South Africa franchlettes anyone?) and the plot is literally all about using tech to seize power and splinter opposition. The whole system of FOQNE’s seems massively geared to cater to populist impulses, with the exception of Mr. Lee’s Greater Hong Kong. It also neatly foresaw the role of self-sustaining media frenzy, increasingly stagnant economic prospects for most, and the resulting insularity and small-mindedness of much of society. It also nailed the gig economy.

scruffyherder 8y ago

Are you sure? > "The Chinese," bellowed a drunken Australian, "Chinese bloody invented nerve-splicing. Give me the mainland for a nerve job any day. Fix you right, mate . . ." > "Now that," Case said to his glass, all his bitterness suddenly rising in him like bile, "that is so much bullshit." > The Japanese had already forgotten more neurosurgery than the Chinese had ever known. The black clinics of Chiba were the cutting edge, whole bodies of technique supplanted monthly, and still they couldn’t repair the damage he’d suffered in that Memphis hotel. https://archive.org/stream/NeuromancerWilliamGibson/Neuromancer%20-%20William%20Gibson_djvu.txt https://archive.org/stream/NeuromancerWilliamGibson/Neuroman...