cyberpunk

cyberpunk
    n 1: a programmer who breaks into computer systems in order to
         steal or change or destroy information as a form of cyber-
         terrorism [syn: {hacker}, {cyber-terrorist}, {cyberpunk}]
    2: a writer of science fiction set in a lawless subculture of an
       oppressive society dominated by computer technology
    3: a genre of fast-paced science fiction involving oppressive
       futuristic computerized societies
    

cyberpunk
 /si:'ber.puhnk/, n.,adj.

   [orig. by SF writer Bruce Bethke and/or editor Gardner Dozois] A
   subgenre of SF launched in 1982 by William Gibson's epoch-making novel
   Neuromancer (though its roots go back through Vernor Vinge's True
   Names (see the Bibliography in Appendix C) to John Brunner's 1975
   novel The Shockwave Rider). Gibson's near-total ignorance of computers
   and the present-day hacker culture enabled him to speculate about the
   role of computers and hackers in the future in ways hackers have since
   found both irritatingly naive and tremendously stimulating. Gibson's
   work was widely imitated, in particular by the short-lived but
   innovative Max Headroom TV series. See {cyberspace}, {ice}, {jack in},
   {go flatline}.

   Since 1990 or so, popular culture has included a movement or fashion
   trend that calls itself `cyberpunk', associated especially with the
   rave/techno subculture. Hackers have mixed feelings about this. On the
   one hand, self-described cyberpunks too often seem to be shallow
   trendoids in black leather who have substituted enthusiastic
   blathering about technology for actually learning and doing it.
   Attitude is no substitute for competence. On the other hand, at least
   cyberpunks are excited about the right things and properly respectful
   of hacking talent in those who have it. The general consensus is to
   tolerate them politely in hopes that they'll attract people who grow
   into being true hackers.
    

cyberpunk

   /si:'ber-puhnk/ (Originally coined by SF writer Bruce Bethke
   and/or editor Gardner Dozois) A subgenre of SF launched in
   1982 by William Gibson's epoch-making novel "Neuromancer"
   (though its roots go back through Vernor Vinge's "True Names"
   to John Brunner's 1975 novel "The Shockwave Rider").  Gibson's
   near-total ignorance of computers and the present-day hacker
   culture enabled him to speculate about the role of computers
   and hackers in the future in ways hackers have since found
   both irritatingly na"ive and tremendously stimulating.
   Gibson's work was widely imitated, in particular by the
   short-lived but innovative "Max Headroom" TV series.  See
   {cyberspace}, {ice}, {jack in}, {go flatline}.

   Since 1990 or so, popular culture has included a movement or
   fashion trend that calls itself "cyberpunk", associated
   especially with the rave/techno subculture.  Hackers have
   mixed feelings about this.  On the one hand, self-described
   cyberpunks too often seem to be shallow trendoids in black
   leather who have substituted enthusiastic blathering about
   technology for actually learning and *doing* it.  Attitude is
   no substitute for competence.  On the other hand, at least
   cyberpunks are excited about the right things and properly
   respectful of hacking talent in those who have it.  The
   general consensus is to tolerate them politely in hopes that
   they'll attract people who grow into being true hackers.

   [{Jargon File}]