Introduction to Cyberpunk Literature – Week 1
Friday, September 11th, 2009
Week 1 – Who’s That Punk?
This week’s course offers a broad overview of the genre, its history and development in terms of science fiction literature. Many critics feel that there was a distinct point at which some science fiction writers moved towards cyberpunk, and certain contrasts exist between examples of science fiction and cyberpunk writing.
Introduction Text for Participants:
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K Dick.
Week 1 Coursework
Read Do Androids Dream… which is considered by many to be the precursor to cyberpunk.
With this story, as well as your other reading as a background, write a short (+/-2 page, complete with links and references) paper on what you see as being the main differences between cyberpunk and science fiction writing. There are a great deal of resources online on this topic, so feel free to use any of them, as long as you refer back.
If you could upload your piece as a blog post (drop me an email if you need some help with this – it confused me at first too) by the end of the day on Monday 14th of September. That gives everyone the whole of Tuesday 15th to read, and then we can have our first discussion on Wednesday 16th.
Additional Resources:
These are just a starting point, but you may find them useful.
Cyberpunk culture, past and present – Project cyberpunk is a great place to go digging for any cyberpunk links. Some are a little outdated, but still useful.
The Four Eras of Cyberpunk This essay by Mr Roboto on Cyberpunkreview.com is a really nice chronology, as well as tying the different eras to real-world current events.
Cyberpunk – Terminal Chic An article by Nathan Cobb that originally appeared in the Boston Globe, November 24, 1992.
Fiction That Bleeds Truth – Jon Lebkowsky’s 1992 musing on cyberpunk as a social movement, originally in bOING-bOING #9.