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I mean…don't get me wrong. I like to read this stuff and everything...but that paper is massive.
Could just be me, but I had a little trouble comprehending all that.
Nice read though.
Yea, it's long, but I'd recommend anyone who's serious about being true to the CP theme of SD and isn't already uber-clued up on the genre, should read it. By no means exhaustive and a little simplistic in places, it's got a good combination of quotes and concepts that should help you define the world your character is living in. If all else fails, the bibliography at the end contains enough 'quality' reading to keep you going for a while.
Only other thing I'd add is that I think it's a mistake to try to narrowly define what "cyberpunk" is. While there is a core of definitive "cyberpunk" traits, the strongest element in all good cyberpunk is the individual, the concept of self... against all. You versus the world. You versus the faceless masses. You versus the man. It's about what you want, what you have to do to get it, who it effects and how much they're going to get in your way.
And...
Don't just look at "cyberpunk" to define -your- cyberpunk.
Conan, Star Wars, Aliens (think Corps and CorpSec), The Untouchables, X-files (just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they're not out to get you), Angel (CP cliched tragic hero), Westerns, Easterns, the guy across the street (he's a whole lot more 'punk than you think), local news, world news, tomorrows news (you figure it out, a good CP should be one step ahead ;))... the list is truely endless. Forget everyone elses weak assed, cliched to hell CP influences, make the next one YOURS.
Oyea... and stop wasting your time reading that rehashed Gibson tripe, it's about as anemic as the bleeding edge can get.
In Neuromancer we have a singular work that I can easily refer to, to get someone to understand. SD isn't just Gibson. God no. Gibson is just a point of reference. You need a point A to get to point B and heck, some people can't figure it out on their own.
Absolutely, find your own groove. Everyone does. You have to in order to survive the streets of red.
~ J
Having stumbled across the book in my local bookstore while on my lunch break the other day I decided to pick it up. I'm not usually in the habit of buying hardcovers, but I'd just finished Jon Courtney Grimwood's Pashazad: The First Arabesk and needed some new lunchtime reading fodder to stash in my desk drawer.
Thus far, I'm hooked. Gibson has definately taken a very new direction, which I felt his fictional work definately needed. Don't buy Pattern Recognition if you want classic "Gibsonesque" cyberpunk or gritty sci-fi. Do buy Pattern Recognition if you want a finely crafted journey into /near/ future cyberpunk… and by "near" I mean staring you in the face if you were just smart enough to get your head out of your sci-fi obsessing ass and take a look at reality.
Gibson defined my worlds, my roleplay and my belief in what a great mind could create. After a period of being somewhat repetetive and predictable, leaving my cognitive juices to be nannied by other authors, he's finally come back... Mommy's come home...
Meh. Who am I kidding, this is too high brow for half of you kiddie-winkle lightweights anyhow.
I'm topping this thread for newer players and old as there have been many discussions of late on the theme, and themely play.
The link in the first post takes you to an excellent paper exploring cyberpunk.
I will highly reccomend reading that paper especially if you don't know the genre well, as it speaks to core, fundamental cyberpunk concepts.
For the more advanced player, the paper contains real insight into the mindset of the cyberpunk character and can be used as a tool to raise the level of play for those interested.
Enjoy.
