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[dgenerator]

Once upon a time I was going to post a rant here, but I think I will save that until I am feeling grumpy about something unrelated, so that I can get the grumpy out.

Neuromancer: 25 Years LaterI think it would be fair to say that Neuromancer has shaped me - or my hobbies - more significantly than any other book I have read, and I'm certain I'm

Comments

[samldanach]

I'm not convinced that cyberpunk is the root genre of transhumanism. Now, I will start by saying that I've actually read very little transhumanism, so I'm probably talking out of my ass. But, I have some concept what the genre is.

I think that cyberpunk is to transhumanism as noir is to pulp. They have a lot of the same trappings, are generally in the same time period, but have some deep differences. The biggest is that cyberpunk and noir believe all the worst of mankind, where transhumanism and pulp believe all the best. Transhumanism is about using technology to rise above our limitations, where cyberpunk maintains that technology will only empower our limitations.

Human nature never changes. The only question is, is that a good thing, or a bad thing?

[dgenerator]

I dispute that based on the following: I think the shorthand of Cyberpunk='technology will oppress us' is fundamentally untrue. It's a very popular opinion to have, but I don't agree, and have never agreed. I would say that instead, "Cyberpunk = 'technology ALONE cannot save us from ourselves/make our world better' - which is a subtle but important difference. I think this is because in general, people tend to get hung up on the social trappings of cyberpunk fiction (because goddamn are they eyecatching) rather than the literary aims

[samldanach]

I probably should have known better than to get involved with this discussion. You are much more thoroughly read in the genre than I am. However

[dgenerator]

Another cyberpunk story that is dystopian but where technology is used to liberate instead of enslave: "Piecework," by David Brin, in his collection Otherness. Probably one of my favorite short stories.

[psychik]

I changed my mind. As long as Blink 182 is still touring, punk is alive... riiiiggghhhttt?

[freegina]

...I'm certain I'm not alone in saying that.

No, you certainly are not.

Have you read Spook Country? His latest? It doesn't disappoint.

Comment not related to post. At all.

[urbanemonkey]

Business will take me to Seattle next Wednesday and Thursday. Are you around then?