I'd like to adknowledge the following sources of information which have not only broadened my understanding of the world today, but also made me think about why the world is as it is today, and where we could be heading.
"If I have seen far, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants." - Thomas Jefferson.
Major Sources
Brunner, John. The Sheep Look Up, Stand on Zanzibar, The Shockwave Rider. Brunner is without doubt the best cyberpunk author I have ever read. His hard-edged work reflects a deep revulsion at the excesses of American capitalist society and shows us the consequences of the consumerist values we have embraced. That, and he predicted the Internet, affirmative action, ethnic tribalism, and invented the words computer virus, phage, and tapeworm for cyberspace. Required reading.
Stephenson, Neal. Snow Crash, The Diamond Age. Stephenson is the finest of the new generation of cyberpunk authors in the 90s, and has an amazing grasp of the social dynamics that propel societies forward. His recondite vocabulary and intriguing plot twists all help to create an exotic, deeply complex world. Unfortunately, he tends to ramble towards the ending, which is often weak and inconclusive. Gibson, William. Neuromancer, Count Zero, Mona Lisa Overdrive, Virtual Light, Idoru. The famous 'classic' cyberpunk books, their importance to the movement is often exaggerated, but the epic majesty of the first book is truly phenomenal. The last two are rather shallow and incoherent, and after you've gotten used to Gibson's style can be somewhat irritating. Gibson's poetic and evocative lyrics contrast nicely with Brunner's rational social critique. Required reading. Huntington, Samuel P. The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order. The definitive analysis of 1990s post-Cold War geopolitics and social patterns. Brilliant deconstructions of modern 'globalisation' and 'universal culture' myths, as well as good trend predictions and an incisive portrayal of the coming conflict between the West, China, and Islam. From America's pre-eminent political scientist. Required reading for all Westerners.Others
20/20 Visions, Vertigo Comics (DC Comics).
Banks, Iain M. The State of the Art, Consider Phlebas, Against a Dark Background,
Use of Weapons, The Player of Games, Excession.
Baird, Wilhemina. CrashCourse, Clipjoint
Cheap Truth. Various authors, most notably Bruce Sterling.
Dick, Philip K. Assorted short stories.
Gibson, William. Neuromancer, Count Zero, Mona Lisa Overdrive, Virtual Light, Idoru.
Heinlein, Robert. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.
Herbert, Frank. Dragon in the Sea.
Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World.
Krugman, Paul. Snake-Oil Salesmen, Peddling Prosperity, Age of Diminished Expectations.
Lem, Stanislaw. Return from the Stars, The Futurological Congress.
McRae, Hamish. The World in 2020.
Postman, Neil. Technopoly.
Raymond, Eric. The New Hacker's Dictionary.
Rucker, Rudy. Software, Wetware, Freeware.
Stephenson, Neal. Snow Crash, The Diamond Age.
Sterling, Bruce. Islands in the Net, Mirrorshades, Holy Fire, Heavy Weather
Visual
Brazil
Nowhere Man (TV)
Bladerunner
Gattaca
Kafka
The Prisoner. "I shall not be filed, stamped, pushed, briefed, debriefed, or numbered!"
Secret Agent (Danger Man) (TV)
Dark City
Max Headroom. "Zik Zak. We Make Everything You Need And You Need Everything We Make."
Punisher Armoury
Terminal Drift
Hardboiled (Miller comic)
Aural
Brave New Waves, with Patty Schmidt, CBC Radio
Frontline Assembly
Front 242
Spasm. Kroker & Gibson.
Negativland
Prodigy
The Crystal Method
Officium.
Tactile
Plasteeque - Man, gotta love the feel of that PVC...
Matte Gun Black #19 - mmmm, smooooothhhh.....
