Tag: Science Fiction

Cyborg and Cyberpunk links

In association with my reading of Bernard Wolfe’s post-apocalyptic, proto-cyberpunk, Limbo, I’ve run across a few fun links:

Cyberpunk and Cyberculture: Science Fiction and the Work of William Gibson by Dani Cavallaro (PDF):

In contemporary western and westernized cultures, people are sur- rounded by an increasingly wide range of tangible products that seem to impart a sense of solidity to their lives. Objects such as mobile phones, computers, portable physiotherapy units, personal stereos, microwave ovens, video recorders and fax machines (to mention but a few examples) are integral components of many people’s everyday existence. Often, they are regarded not merely as useful tools for the accomplishment of practical tasks but actually as defining aspects of people’s identities, lifestyles and value systems. They thus become comparable to prostheses, the artificial supports used by medical technology to complete otherwise lacking physical organisms.

“Cyberpunk 101”, Richard Kadrey and Larry McCaffery (PDF) Continue reading “Cyborg and Cyberpunk links”

Neanderthals, extinction, the apocalypse

After a lengthy hiatus, I’m about to kick my survey of post-apocalyptic science fiction into gear again. Before I do so, I’m reposting my original rationale for reading post-apocalyptic sci-fi:

What does the Neanderthal genome have to with post-apocalyptic science fiction? It may seem like odd inspiration, but Neanderthals have aroused my interest in one of the most venerable genres of science fiction. Last summer I was awaiting the release of The Road movie, reading a piece of classic post-nuclear sci-fi (John Wyndham’s 1955 The Chrysalids), and thinking about some recent news stories on the (then) forthcoming Neanderthal genome sequence. Continue reading “Neanderthals, extinction, the apocalypse”

David Brin: read these to have sci-fi bragging rights

I’m a sucker for lists of good sci-fi. David Brin puts out a big one, with categories:

But now let’s try something much more ambitious — a bigger, broader reading compilation. This is still just a sampler – for something comprehensive, see the Science Fiction Encyclopedia or the user-friendly Worlds Without End. But any person who has read all the books and stories and authors noted here (and I admit they are heavy on “classics”) can come away with bragging rights to say: “I know something about science fiction.”

For this list I divide the novels authors and stories in my own quirky manner , according to categories…

Of the books on the list, I’ve read ~25, and I have a roughly equal number of unread ones piling up on my bookshelf.

I have to object to his recommendation to read “anything at all by Poul Anderson.” Having read three, Vault of the Ages, Twilight World, and The Winter of the World, I’m not impressed.

Sci-fi-ish links

For Sci-fi fans of all stripes:

If you like Lovecraft (and all fans of classic sci-fi should), check out Arthur Machen: Beyond the Veil: The Fiction of Arthur Machen by Michael Dirda

H.G. Wells: Tono-Bungay By H.G. WELLS reviewed by Michael Dirda

John Buchan: The Vintage Thrillers of John Buchan, by Michael Dirda

William Gibson: Zero History By WILLIAM GIBSON Reviewed by Paul Di Filippo

Meta Sci-Fi: The Astounding, the Amazing, and the Unknown By PAUL MALMONT Reviewed by Paul Di Filippo

The literature of the 21st century is science fiction?

Recently I’ve been engaged in a little reading project – reading post-Hiroshima End of the World science fiction side by side with the best mainstream literature of the 1950’s. What I see is that 1950’s sci-fi at the time ignored the last 100 years of development in literature, while the mainstream literature of the time ignored the last 100 years of technological development. Very slowly, this has changed over the last 60 years, and we’ve reached the point where things are getting really exciting…

Guardian columnist Damien Walter on “Why Science Fiction is the Literature of Change: Continue reading “The literature of the 21st century is science fiction?”