Description: William Gibson, a founding father of cyberpunk, is one today's most popular science fiction writers. This companion is meant both for general readers and for scholars interested in Gibson's oeuvre. It provides literary and cultural context for works ranging from Gibson's first short story, "Fragments of a Hologram Rose" (1977), to his seminal cyberpunk classic Neuromancer (1984), to his best-selling novel Zero History (2010), and includes commentary on Gibson's subjects, themes, and approaches. Existing scholarship on Gibson is surveyed, and is accessible to and useful for fans and scholars alike. An extensive bibliography is included to facilitate further study of William Gibson's writing, influence, and place in the history of science fiction and in literature as a whole.
Brief description: 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.
Review Quotes: "very well researched and written"--ARBA; "excellent series of Literary Companions"--Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine; "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.