Cyberpunk & Postmodern Science Fiction Casebook

In 1984, the term "cyberpunk" was introduced to the literary world by William Gibson's groundbreaking novel Neuromancer. Larry McCaffery argues in Storming the Reality Studio that cyberpunks have become the shock troops of postmodernism, utilizing the resources of a fragmented culture to create a new and innovative form of art. The features of cyberpunk writing such as artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, multinational conspiracies, frenzied prose, stylistic collisions, and tactile celebrations are closely linked to the goals and advancements of the literary avant-garde.

This volume brings together original fiction from renowned contemporary writers like William Burroughs, Thomas Pynchon, Don DeLillo, Kathy Acker, J. G. Ballard, and Samuel R. Delany, along with critical commentary from leading theorists of postmodern art and culture such as Jacques Derrida, Fredric Jameson, Timothy Leary, and Jean-François Lyotard. It also includes contributions from major cyberpunk practitioners like William Gibson, Rudy Rucker, John Shirley, Pat Cadigan, and Bruce Sterling, revealing an engaging ongoing discourse in today's culture.

A common theme that emerges from these discussions is the impact of technology on modern life. McCaffery emphasizes that science fiction, usually associated with technological themes, has taken a forefront in creatively exploring our contemporary era. This anthology provides a unique opportunity for interdisciplinary reading, offering fresh insights into the evolution of postmodern culture and demonstrating how technological advancements have deeply influenced our perception and artistic expression.

Selected Fiction contributors in this anthology include a diverse range of authors such as Kathy Acker, J. G. Ballard, William S. Burroughs, Pat Cadigan, Samuel R. Delany, Don DeLillo, William Gibson, and more. Non-Fiction contributors encompass figures like Jean Baudrillard, Jacques Derrida, Fredric Jameson, Timothy Leary, and Larry McCaffery, among others, providing a comprehensive and thought-provoking exploration of the intersection between technology and culture.

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