What is cyberspace?

Abstract In a recent issue of CLSR, Bernard Zajac suggested that readers might want to pursue some of the ‘cyberpunk’ novels — in particular the works of William Gibson — in order to gain an insight into the organization and behaviour of hackers. While wholly commending the incitement to read Gibson's work, David Birch and Peter Buck feel that this view understates the breadth of vision of the cyberpunk genre and could mislead, because the ‘console men’ and ‘keyboard cowboys’ of Gibson's works are not really the same people as the hackers of today. The authors consider that it might therefore be both entertaining and stimulating to provide readers with an overview of the world of cyberspace and to draw attention to some elements of the works where further analysis and discussion is called for. Is it possible that, like Arthur C. Clarke's much vaunted prediction of the communication satellite, Gibson has produced works which are not so much science fiction as informed prediction? Gibson is not the only cyberpunk author, but he has become probably the most well-known. Essential reading includes his books Count Zero; Neuromancer; Burning Chrome and Mona Lisa Overdrive. For readers new to the subject, Mirrorshades is an excellent anthology of cyberpunk short stories which gives an overview of the spectrum of cyberpunk writing.