Cyberpunk - chat with William Gibson




	Chat with William Gibson

William Gibson
A most wonderful cyberpunk author (can you say Neuromancer?)

* Icephreak feels The Force. He is among us. *
Icephreak: He must be.

Gardner: At the magazines, we still read our own slushpiles.

* Nothing taps fingers impatiently *

Icephreak: Mr. Gibson, send me a pair of shades, brother!

Android: I can smelll him.

hiroshi: Mr. Gibson, what is your inspiration

Icephreak: Get out.

Moderator: Gardner?

Joblard: My inspiration? I just walk around and things stick to me. It's not a conscious gig, you know?

Moderator: 120 wpm? Typing faster than ever?

Gardner: Right here, Boss.

Gardner: Hi, Bill.

Moderator: Joblard AKA Mister Bill can type too!

Gardner: Typing with my FEET.

Joblard: Hi, gardner.

Moderator: Intro time:

Moderator: Hi everyone, thanks for joining us! Our guest tonight is William Gibson, the renowned writer and Velvet Underground fan (some may recognize ALL TOMORROW'S PARTIES, the title of Gibson's latest novel, as a riff off Lou and John) Bill's earlier books, NEUROMANCER, MONA LISA OVERDRIVE and the short story collection, BURNING CHROME, defined a popular new subgenre in the already compartmentalized world of science fiction and fantasy -- cyberpunk.

Moderator: This chat is co-sponsored by Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine which you can find on the web at http://www.asimovs.com. And the host for tonight's chat is Asimov's own lovely and talented editor, Gardner Dozois! A big round of virtual applause please...

Gardner: Don't forget the ASIMOV'S commercial.

Moderator: Brief word about the drill -- this IS a moderated chat and that means you will be sending your questions for Mr Bill to me, Moderator, as private messages. Don't know how to send private messages? Just double-click on my name and voila! you're in private message mode.

Gardner: The cheers are deafening!

Moderator: I ced the floor to you, Mister Dozois...

Moderator: cede

Moderator: that's what I meant.

Gardner: So, Bill, you sitting around waiting for The End Of The World As We Know It?

Joblard: I've never actually done one these before. I did by phone, before...

Gardner: It's just like phone sex, except with typing. <g>

Moderator: And with GARDNER.

Joblard: A live chat, I mean. Not worrying about the apoclypse. Porklips. Whatever.

Moderator: We have some audience questions...

Gardner: I'D worry about Porklips.

Joblard: Bring 'em on...

Moderator: <Clockwork> : good first question: How do we know you're the REAL WmG and not an artificial construct?

Gardner: Let him have them!

Joblard: You don't. That's the nature of the postmodern, you dig? Simulacra and shit...

Gardner: How do you know YOU'RE the real YOU, Clockwork? <g>

Moderator: (The Moderator is declaring a moratorium on Keanu Reeves questions, by the way...)

Gardner: You might have been replaced by a pod while you weren't looking.

Joblard: I don't. I'm sort of a congeries of feedback loops, it often feels like.

Moderator: Here's another:

Gardner: How do you know he's not Keanu Reaves PRETENDING to be Bill Gibson?

Moderator: <BlitzFire> : To Mr. Gibson: For what reason did it take so long for you to realize the potential of Neuromancer as a movie?

Moderator: I'm not gagging.

Moderator: That's how I know.

Joblard: Uh...

Joblard: I wasn't TRYING to take 20 years. It just did. And previous experience made me a bit nervous, yes?

Gardner: Writers don't usually have the final word in deciding how and when movies get made...

Gardner: What was the previous experience, for those not up to speed?

Joblard: Well, no, but I've sort of aspired to that. I can be done. Maybe. Sort of.

Moderator: I think you got a private send there.

Joblard: Well, JOHNNY M, which I had a lot more to do with than you'd imaginer from the outcome.

Moderator: Here's another question:

Moderator: <Tiger-T> : A question for Bill Gibson: since you're a newcomer to the Internet, did that change your vision of what cyberspace "feels" like for your characters?

Moderator: Station identification: our guest for tonight's chat (which is cosponsored by Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine -- http://www.asimovs.com, on a browser near you!) is William Gibson. Please sen your questions for WG to me, Moderator, as private messages. (Double-click on my name to get into private message mode.)

Joblard: Yeah. It made it banal, which was a great relief. Not so OOOOH-WAW, you know?

Moderator: <Drayth> : Do you feel yourself still influenced by the people and things you were influenced by when you began writing. You'd mentioned william burroughs

Joblard: Well, the deep influences are still there but I'm not aware of them. The recent ones can be more problematic.

Joblard: I find myself trying to write like Iain Sinclair, for instance.

Moderator: Related question:

Gardner: Do you feel that your writing has changed since you wrote NEUROMANCER? If so, in what way has it changed?

Moderator: <VirtualRose> : Question: Without a doubt, there's been countless souls that have claimed that the inspiration for their work was you. Out of all those people, is there anyone who impressed you?

Moderator: Take Gardner's first!

Joblard: First one: well, I lived 20 years in between... I'd hope that would be reflected. I think of NEURO as having been channeled in my late 20s out of my my adolescent self.

Gardner: Which self do you feel you're channeling now?

Joblard: Second one, um, no, not really. Actually that makes it harder to take them seriously. Jack Womack for instance had never even heard of me, and THAT impressed me.

Moderator: <Lord-Visor>: The most pronounced change of style I noticed in your writing, besides the Difference Engine came with Virtual Light - did anything specific prompt that?

Joblard: Synaptic breakdown?

Joblard: Micro-strokes?

Gardner: Visitation by the Holy Spirit?

Joblard: Temporal lobe epilepsy?

Moderator: Y2K?

Joblard: Visitation by Philip K Dick?

Moderator: All of the above?

Moderator: <EuroCorpAGENT> : Have your ideas been influenced by any computer games or the ideas wherein? Games such as Syndicate Wars and other "cyberpunk" related games?

Joblard: YES!

Gardner: Was that "Yes" for the gaming question above?

Joblard: Er, no. Not really. Bigtime not really.

Gardner: Have you ever played such a computer game?

Gardner: Especially one influenced by your own work?

Moderator: Gauntlet's kind of fun. Except that my 5 year old consistently beats me...

Joblard: No, it was no. And no, I never have. Likely never will. Lack the gaming gene.

Moderator: <Drayth> : Do you feel that the advent of fame has disrupted what would otherwise be your thought pattern and perception of things?

Gardner: You should call the Family Abuse Hotline, Moderator.

Moderator: Or Dr. Laura!~

Gardner: That's metaphysics, Drayth. If you had a brother, would he like noodles?

Joblard: Well, yes and no. It has but I've remained aware that it has. In a way that's the subtext of the three most recent books...

Moderator: <canaccij> : Do you ever think you would be interested in writing for your own series on television (like x-files)...perhaps something on the scifi channel?

Joblard: Yeah. I've discussed it at times. It's a truly Godawful job if you really want to maintain control. Chris Carter is superhuman.

Moderator: <VirtualRose> to <Moderator>: another question: what do you think will happen at 00:00:00 1/1/2000? and how far from civilzation do you plan to be?

Gardner: How far from civilization can you GET might be an even better question. <g>

Moderator: In a celler with a can of beans and a candle?

Joblard: I'll probably be right here in my basement. I think bugger-all will really happen. Lot of survivalists shooting themselves, maybe.

Gardner: My guess is that Y2K is going to be the Fizzle of the Century.

Moderator: Yeah, but all the survivalists will be over the border from vancouver -- in Seattle!

Moderator: <zamirii> : do you feel the world is starting to reflect some of the darker parts of your novels?

Joblard: Agreed, but historically it'll go down as first global recognition of the extent of interconnectivity.

Gardner: I wouldn't want to be in Times Square, because it'll be packed full of crazies, and a tempting target for terrorism if there's going to be any. Otherwise, though...

Moderator: You still there, Meester Bill?

Moderator: Type to us!

Joblard: Actually, no. Some parts (former Sovworld, say) very dark, other parts very light. More a mixed bag. Dystopias as inherently fantastic as utopias.

Moderator: Survivalists got yr computer?

Moderator: <calladonna>: Neuromancer established many of the technical terms we use for computer tech today. What resources did you use to create the technical terms and ideas in Neuromancer?

Joblard: I'm a slow typist...

Moderator: Just wanted to make sure you hadn't crashed.

Joblard: I am...Joblard. Says so right here.

Joblard: Is there a siognal to let you know utterance is complete?

Gardner: I think Bill is responding to some private zends, since that last question didn't appear on the screen.

Gardner: Bill, when you're finished with a statement, type GA.

Joblard: Uh, no, never mind. Go on...

Joblard: Ah, GA!

Moderator: Nope, I protected him from private sends!

Moderator: No distractions!

Moderator: None of the time!

Moderator: <Tadziki> : Question for Mr. Gibson: is there an underlying psychological reason why your stories usually feature tough-as-nails punk rock babes in heroic roles?

Moderator: Ahem! Tough-as-nails punk rock babes are the best!

Gardner: You can say GA, or, if you prefer, GOO GOO GA GA. <g>

Moderator: Or Georgia.

Joblard: I have a soft spot for tough-as-nails punk rock babes.GA

Gardner: Careful! Moderator IS a tough-as-nails punk rock babe!

Moderator: That's RIGHT!

Moderator: <Rigged>: Does Mr. Gibson have any predictions about the next century?

Gardner: She'll reach through your modem and rip your lungs out!

Moderator: Then I'll smoke them.

Joblard: That's why mysoft spot is acting up? (It's on top of my head.)GA

Moderator: Predictions? Next century?

Joblard: Faster, pussycat! Kill! Kill!GA

Gardner: (You all DO know that technically the next century doesn't start until after 2001, right?)

Moderator: <Gomi> : Your predictions of "the net" has held up extraordinarily well. How well do you think your more current predictions will hold up?

Joblard: Probably not so well. The nature of current history makes classical extrapolation difficult to say the least.GA

Moderator: <alienharris> : when does WG think we will have direct neural interfacing?

Joblard: Within a decade?GA

Gardner: Bill, would you GET direct neural interfacing if it was available?

Joblard: About as readily as I'd get my myopia corrected with laser surgery. I MIGHT, but I'm in no hurry.GA

Gardner: I'm not so sure I want the equvilent of The Phone Company rewiring MY head! <g>

Moderator: <splitenz> : Mr Gibson: What are you obsessed with at the moment?

Joblard: Gardner's head: hell of a job for that lineman...

Moderator: Even Glenn Campbell recoils in horror...

Joblard: I'm still obsessed with vintage watches, but it's turning into an anthropolical exploration of the otaku syndrome...GA

Moderator: <cyborgmama>: Okay when will corps own people?

Gardner: You mean they DON'T already?

Joblard: "The myth of human capital".... (Gardner gets it.)GA

Moderator: <laplaine> : Any plans to do another novel with Bruce Sterling?

Joblard: Well, we'd have to find a TOPIC we could both obsess over, and so far none has turned up.GA

Moderator: <zoos> : Will you be playing an active role in the development of the Neuromancer movie? It's been rumoured that Toronto will be the setting. Is this true?

Joblard: No T-o as far as I know. I'm very involved, to the extent that it's happening at all.GA

Moderator: <VirtualRose>: how much did you know about computers before writing Neuromancer?

Joblard: As much as I could learn by eavesdropping, drunk, in a convention bar in Seattle in 1980. Literally.GA

Moderator: <Vogel>: Q. for Mr Gibson: Do you read any SF for fun? If so, what recent stories have you liked, and why?

Joblard: Uh, well... I haven't, much, lately. I advise you all to read Iain Sinclair and Cormac McCarthy. Do that and you won't even NEED me...GA

Moderator: <LordElgin> : When you collect watches are there particular periods, movements, or m,anufacturers you like the best? Curvex movements, presentation watches, etc?

Joblard: I'm into entry-level vintage Rolex windups and JLC military issue. (weird squeaky nerd sounds)GA

Gardner: Did you ever wonder what turn your career would have taken if you HADN'T happened to be in that particular bar at that specific time?

Moderator: <gosub>: Mr. Gibson: What kind of computer are you using now?

Joblard: Gard: gently alcoholic clerk in used bookstore that smells of cat-piss. Definitely.

Joblard: other guy: Performa 5200CG.GA

Moderator: <BlitzFire> : To Mr. Gibson: What's your favorite liquor? Or beer for that matter...

Moderator: And...

Moderator: <valjean> to <Moderator>: Does alcohol increase creative thought?

Gardner: Gee, Bill, did you ever think of doing computer endorsements? Could be Big Bucks in it...

Moderator: (valjean also wants to know if you like dolphins. valjean -- what's NOT to like?)

Joblard: Well, used to be very partial to Holsten Pils, which I only ever had in the UK.GA

Moderator: <cyborgmama>: Tell us about Phillip K. Dick's influence on you... please.

Joblard: valjean: a tricky question, that. Yes, for about ten minutes, then, increasingly, no. Tho as Martin Amis says, hangovers aren't the worst place to start.GA

Joblard: Gard: Nobody wants me to endorsae their stuff. Anyway I'm such a Machead...GA

Moderator: No Y2K troubles there!

Moderator: Did you want to comment on the Phil Dick influences?

Joblard: PKD: precious little, honestly. I think I got my PKD-like moves from Pynchon, mainly.GA

Moderator: <laplaine> : Do outline your stories first, then write the details, or go whole hog as it comes to you.

Joblard: No, no outline. E.M. Forster said a writer in control of plot and charaqcter was clearly NOT doing his job.GA

Gardner: William Burroughs and Raymond Chandler are obvious. Any SF writers who were a big influence on you?

Moderator: <EuroCorpAGENT> : why are you so into japanese backdrops for your novels? is there any reason in particular?

Joblard: Gard: well, Leiber, Sturgeon, Bester come to mind. Fritz was a bigger one than I usually let on, I think. Some of his darker 60s stuff was very pre-CP.GA

Gardner: I horrify myself by having a media question: What did you think of THE MATRIX? Seemed obvious to me it had been heavily influenced by your work.

Moderator: Leiber's Coming Attractions, certainly.

Joblard: You know, I liked the damned thing. I thought it was big, generous, essentially good-hearted movie, with no overtly fascist subtext. And I thought the WG influence was adequately digested. No floating gristle...GA

Gardner: Leiber's Time War stories as well. Gritty, urban, and urbane.

Moderator: I'm gonna back up to an earlier question I thought was interesting...

Moderator: <EuroCorpAGENT> : why are you so into japanese backdrops for your novels? is there any reason in particular?

Joblard: Yeah. Fritz was a very urbane character, and that's not always been the norm her in, you know?GA

Moderator: Fritz was amazing.

Joblard: When I was about 12, I wrote Fritz a letter and got a postcard back. Big deal at the time. Nice man.GA

Moderator: I used to visit Fritz in his Geary street apt. Did you want to comment on JaPANESE influences in yr work?

Joblard: Well, there's a lot of asian influence here in Vancouver, and the success of NEURO in Japan took me there twice. I just find them fascinating. More so somehow than China etc., not sure why. Inherently more kinky, I think.GA

Moderator: <lx> : Mr.Gibson: what kind of religion will we have in the future?

Joblard: 12 Step programs and role-playing games, basically.GA

Gardner: How does it feel to be adequetely digested? <g> Are you now part of the zeitgeist, like the dial tone on the telephone?

Joblard: It feels....goooooood.... Like oxtail soup...GA

Moderator: Gardner! You're making my head ache!

Moderator: <Flanker> : what kind of music does Wiiliam Gibson listen to?

Joblard: alt.country, a lot. Nick Cave's THE BOATMAN'S CALL. Scud Mountain Boys. Emmylou Harris. There's a new Steely Dan album next month. Good, too.GA

Moderator: <zoos> : Would you agree that technology is reaching such a critical mass that we will one day return to a more simplistic way of living?

Joblard: Not unless something f8cks up really badly, we won't. I wouldn't think.GA

Gardner: The only way for most of us to return to a more simple way of living is to die.

Joblard: Yep.GA

Moderator: Or to hide out on New Year's Eve in that cellar with that can of beans...

Gardner: Dying is fairly simple.

Moderator: <joed6> : for mr. gibson: what was your inspiration for the walled city?

Joblard: The actual Walled City of KOWLOON. Find a book called CITY OF DARKNESS. It's gone now, demolished.GA

Moderator: <BlitzFire> to <Moderator>: To Mr. Gibson: You said that Japan has an influence on your work. Would you include anime (Japanese animation) as part of this?\

Joblard: Well, peripherally. Mr daughter is a big anime fan.GA

Moderator: <Lord-Visor> : What do you think can be done to prevent the total loss of privacy? DNA testing, Safe-T-Cam, pattern recognition, everyone's every detail stored and every movement tracked etc, ripe for abuse......

Joblard: I'm inclined to think it's gone anyway.ga

Moderator: <Gmmas> : Bill: do you think that artificial intelligence will ever become "sentient"?

Joblard: are we

Gardner: An even better question: if it's "sentient," why should it do what WE want it to do?

Moderator: Because it lacks ambition?

Joblard: yeah, but we won't know....ga

Moderator: <BlitzFire> : To Mr. Gibson: If you could choose to be any one character from your novels, who would it be and why?

Moderator: (The whole bossiness thing is a biological artifact, no?)

Joblard: mr. yamazaki, good job.ga

Gardner: If you could choose to HAVE DINNER with any one of your characters, who would it be?

Joblard: molly1ga

Moderator: And our last question of the evening -- I'm sure Mister Gibson's fingers must be getting tired...

Moderator: <cyborgmama> : so if y2k isn't going to get us... will a magnetic polar shift, a plague or just general greed and nastiness be our downfall?

Joblard: relax, kids... ga

Gardner: I also have a last question of the evening:

Moderator: The suspense!

Gardner: What's your next novel going to be about? And are you ever going to write any more short fiction?

Moderator: Yes, short fiction please!

Moderator: I love the architecture story in Burning Chrome!

Gardner: <Gardner also puts in a bid for short fiction>

Gardner: <Of course, he has an ulterior motive>

Moderator: Short stories are a higher art form than novels -- that's yr motive. Right, Gard?

Gardner: Of course. <folding hands serenely>

Joblard: (1) Maybe something with (deranged, natch) contemporary setting? (2) I'd LIKE to but it's not really cost-effective, sad to say. Novels pay the mortage better. But I do get the itch, now and again...GA

Moderator: Bill -- thanks so much for joining us here tonight!

Gardner: Next time you get the itch, go ahead and scratch it!

Moderator: This was fun.

Gardner: Bill, have you ever wanted to do a completely NON-Bill Gibson-like novel?

Gardner: A high fantasy or something?

Moderator: Something Jane-Austenish, say?

Joblard: Thank you! It's been....epochal! Now I see why people do this. Ignore all previous WG chats. They were...augmented. My tulpa did them for me. G'night! 8-DGA

Moderator: Good night, Bill!

Gardner: Good night, Bill!

Moderator: Ladies and gentlemen -- an exciting first.

Joblard: GOOD NIGHT, ALL!GA

Gardner: There'll be a lamp in the window for you at ASIMOV'S if you ever want to Come Home! <g>

Moderator: Bill Gibson did his own typing tonight -- and found out why this is FUN.

Moderator: Gardner does his own typing every two weeks!

Joblard: fun.....fun.....fun.....GA

Gardner: <robotic voice> ...typing...is...fun...

Moderator: So you should check back in to see who Gardner has line up -- Michael Swanwick, I believe!

Joblard: fun...fun....GA

Moderator: And Lucius Shepard!

Joblard: GA...GA....GA

Gardner: Next chat is with Michael Swanwick and Lucius Shepard, Bill.

Joblard: lucius is.....fuuuuuuuuun......GA

Moderator: That's Bill Gibson for the Georgia State Tourism Board!

Gardner: You ought to come join us.

Gardner: It could be an Ace Specials reunion!

Joblard: I'm outa here!GA

Moderator: And now, we're gonna go UNmoderated...

Moderator: Hold on...

VirtualRose: goodnight!

Moderator: There!

Gomi: WOW!

timezone: Bill, don't go......

Gmmas: thanks Bill, Gardner, and Moderator, and Happy new year!

Bastard: hoh

Clockwork: A fine chat! Well done!