Journal II

The genre of Cyberpunk seems to be that of the more realistic and, maybe, the more pessimistic author. Although much of what is addressed in many of the stories in Mirrorshades seem plausible, they also have a feeling of nostalgia. This is most likely a result of the stories being written in the early to mid-80's, but it gives them almost a naive quality. Some of the subjects they've written about have happened or are happening. Then again, some stories have this sort of feeling of normalcy and then a strange bit of information is given and it completely takes you out of what you felt was a safe place. The other vision of life we're given is one of supposed security in the state and world that the future has formed and it's rotten from the inside out, rotten with technology.

Snake-Eyes, for example, really appealed to me because the main character, George, lives and talks about places where I've been and grew up. He also describes his life in a very human, confused and frustrated sort of way, which makes him seems very “real”. At first it seems as though he's just another cast off from the Air Force, left to mentally designate and vanish. His purpose though becomes much more complex and strange as the story continues and he becomes controlled by the primeval force in his mind and a space “computer”. Passions ends up conquering all though love and the need to be in control. Which is a very compassionate and emotionally appealing conclusion to a tale that began so dismally.

This seems to be a running theme through out all of the Cyberpunk genre. Regaining hope through deep external and internal strife. Many of William Gibson's stories follow this pattern as well. He shows a world very similar to the one we live in now; dirty, used and lost in the past to a degree. Gibson also gives the impression that maybe it's for the best that we aren't living in the gleaming temple world that was envisioned for us. The Gernsback Continuum gives a great example of the potential totalitarian steel nightmare we avoided. We aren't burdened by he horror of flying cars, food in pill form only and uniform identities. What our future is now holding is poorly constructed condominiums that block out all view, tainted food sources and economic disaster. That will at least hold true, for the time being.

sources:

Mirrorshades, Bruce Sterling 1986

William Gibson - Official Site

Cyberpunk Project

Mirrorshades Postmodern Archives