One of my favorite authors is William Gibson. I first read his debut novel, “Neuromancer,” around the time the internet was taking off. I read it just before a book by Howard Rheingold called “Virtual Reality.” Rheingold was and is an expert on evolving computer technology. Gibson, when he wrote that novel, was an unknown who professed almost no understanding of computers. “Neuromancer” was written in 1984 and “Virtual Reality” in 1991. Remarkable was the similarities between the technological visions of the two books. Not the least of which was that Gibson imagined a universe in the interconnection of computers. He named it “cyberspace.” Rheingold talked about how that place was being. and would be used.
In short, Gibson is a very good writer who is also a remarkable visionary. His books, somewhat like Ray Bradbury’s, don’t focus on the science part of SciFi. Tech is not a character, it is just part of the world in which the stories take place. But while his worlds are often dystopian, some nearly apocalyptic in fact, they dovetail in some rather remarkable ways with the way technology is affecting our “real” world.
So when I saw the New York magazine had asked him for his top ten list of science fiction books, I had to take a look. Some are expected gems of the genre. But others ….
One caveat, some have said Samuel Delany’s book warrants a PMRC label warning for explicit (and graphically detailed) sex scenes. Where is Tipper Gore when you need her? And will we be seeing her around here any time soon?
http://nymag.com/arts/books/features/66294/index2.html
SCIENCE FICTION
Tiger! Tiger! (1956)By Alfred BesterIt’s also known as The Stars My Destination. My favorite literary expression of mid-century Manhattan, and I doubt I’d have written without having read it.
Dhalgren (1975)By Samuel R. Delany It won’t work unless you can allow it to become your head for a few weeks; it helps if you’re rather young. Closest thing I know to a great “sixties” novel.
Arslan (1976)By M. J. EnghA very different sort of alien invasion: America as Earth. One of the best works of science fiction you probably haven’t heard of.
The Crystal World (1966)By J. G. Ballard It’s hard to pick just one Ballard, but you could certainly start with this.
The Forever War (1974)By Joe Haldeman The most adult and intelligent novel of military science fiction.
Pavane (1968)By Keith Roberts The Roman Catholic Church still rules England in 1968, Protestantism having been destroyed in the wake of the 1588 assassination of Queen Elizabeth.
Random Acts of Senseless Violence (1993)By Jack Womack A heart-rending and perpetually more likely near-future Manhattan.
Great Work of Time (1991)By John Crowley Vast and all-encompassing, it’s a novel magically disguised as a novella.
Holy Fire (1996)By Bruce Sterling A glacially logical yet emotionally intelligent extrapolation of age-extension technology. Also brilliant on bohemias.
334 (1972)By Thomas M. Disch Everyday life in Manhattan, 2025, at 334 East 11th Street, a vast housing project. I think of it whenever anyone seriously suggests my work is dystopian.
William Gibson, SF’s current visionary has a new novel, Zero History (Putnam), due out September 7.
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