William Gibson

William Gibson, author of the cyberpunk classic, Neuromancer (1984), is one today’s most widely read science fiction writers. This companion is meant both for general readers and for scholars interested in Gibson’s oeuvre. In addition to providing a literary and cultural context for works ranging from Gibson’s first short story, “Fragments of a Hologram Rose” (1977), to his recent, bestselling novel, Zero History (2010), the companion offers commentary on Gibson’s subjects, themes, and approaches. It also surveys existing scholarship on Gibson’s work in an accessible way and provides an extensive bibliography to facilitate further study of William Gibson’s writing, influence, and place in the history of science fiction and in literature as a whole.

The late Tom Henthorne was an associate professor of English and Women’s and Gender Studies at Pace University and director of the American Studies program. He was the author of numerous articles on topics ranging from Cyberspace to Star Wars and wrote a book on Joseph Conrad’s early, postcolonial fiction.

Tom Henthorne

Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 176
Bibliographic Info: appendices, glossary, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2011
pISBN: 978-0-7864-6151-6
eISBN: 978-0-7864-8693-9
Imprint: McFarland
Series: McFarland Literary Companions

Acknowledgments  v
Preface  1
Introduction  3
Chronology of Gibson’s Life and Works  5
William Gibson: A Literary Companion  17
Glossary  131
Appendix A: Timeline of Technological Developments  140
Appendix B: Writing and Research Topics  142
Bibliography  151
Index  163

• “Very well researched and written”—ARBA
• “A one-stop-shop for biographical and bibliographical information, critical commentary, and pedagogical material relating to Gibson and his work. Henthorne has performed a valuable service by gathering so much information about William Gibson and his work into one place”—Science Fiction Studies