William Gibson (b. 1948) is a science fiction writer from Vancouver, Canada. His most famous novel is Neuromancer (Ace Books, 1984), a dark vision of the near future in which Gibson coined the term cyberspace to refer to a matrix of electronic data controlled by powerful corporations. His other sci-fi novels include Count Zero (Arbor House, 1986), Mona Lisa Overdrive (Bantam, 1988), and Virtual Light (Bantam, 1993). "Johnny Mnemonic" was first published in 1981 in Omni, a magazine intended for a general audience interested in science and science fiction. The story was made into a feature movie (Tristar, 1995) written by Gibson and directed by Robert Longo (See also Gibson’s story "Burning Chrome" in Chapter 8.)
"Johnny Mnemonic" (Composing Cyberspace p. 48) is not available online.
1. Gibson’s writing is often cited as the first "cyberpunk" literature, characterized by a condensed, fast-paced narrative in an imaginary future dominated by technology. As in this story, the terminology for elements of that future world -- places, customs, organizations, devices, etc. -- may be only partially explained, so the reader must piece together the social context from sometimes-fragmented clues in the action. Make a list of unfamiliar terms in this story -- including Drome, implants, neural disruptor, Squids, Nighttown, and Lo Teks -- and try making a "Johnny Mnemonic" glossary in which you define, describe, and discuss the functions of these elements in the story.
2. The human characters in this story, and even the dolphin, are cyborgs, or combinations of biological organisms and artificial or technological parts. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of their particular biotechnical enhancements for Johnny, Molly, and other characters?
3. In the preface to Burning Chrome (Arbor, 1986), Gibson’s collection of stories, Bruce Sterling writes that in "Johnny Mnemonic" "we see a future that is recognizably and painstakingly drawn from the modern condition." What elements of the story are recognizable to you from today’s world? How realistic or exaggerated do you think these elements are as reflections of current conditions or trends?
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