history of cyberpunk

William Gibson publishes "Burning Chrome"

Jul 1, 1982

In "Burning Chrome" Gibson invents the metaphor of 'cyberspace'.
Schactman, Noah 2008, '26 Years After Gibson, Pentagon Defines 'Cyberspace', "Wired", May 23, viewed 23 August 2012, http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2008/05/pentagon-define/
"Burning Chrome" cover art http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Burning_chrome.JPG

"Blade Runner" released

Aug 24, 1982

American science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott. Greenwald, Ted 2007, ‘Read the Full Transcript of Wired's Interview with Ridley Scott', "Wired", Issue 15.10, viewed 23 August 2012, http://www.wired.com/entertainment/hollywood/magazine/15-10/ff_bladerunner_full?currentPage=all http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2f/Bladerunner_tyrellbuilding.jpg

Bruce Bethke publishes "Cyberpunk" and thus coins the term.

Nov 1, 1983

Bethke explains:" I was actively trying to invent a new term that grokked the juxtaposition of punk attitudes and high technology". Bethke actually wrote the story in 1980.
Bethke, Bruce 2010, 'The Etymology of "Cyberpunk"', "Bruce Bethke, Writer", viewed 23 August 2012, http://www.brucebethke.com/articles/re_cp.html

William Gibson publishes his debut novel "Neuromancer"

Jul 1, 1984

"Neuromancer" becomes the defining work in the cyberpunk genre.
Gioia, Ted, nd, 'Neuromancer, "Conceptual Fiction", http://www.conceptualfiction.com/neuromancer.html
Bethke, Bruce 2010, 'The Etymology of "Cyberpunk"', "Bruce Bethke, Writer",http://www.brucebethke.com/articles/re_cp.html
"Neuromancer" cover page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Neuromancer_(Book).jpg

Bruce Sterling publishes “Islands in the Net”

Jan 1, 1988

Postcyberpunk era begins with Sterling's “Islands in the Net”. Person, Lawrence, 1999 ‘Notes Toward a Postcyberpunk Manifesto’, “Slashdot”, viewed 23 August 2012, http://slashdot.org/story/99/10/08/2123255/notes-toward-a-postcyberpunk-manifesto
Cover of the first edition, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:IslandsInTheNet(1stEd).jpg

"Ghost in the Shell" released

Oct 18, 1995

A Japanese anime cyberpunk science fiction film directed by Mamoru Oshii; an adaptation of the manga "Ghost in the Shell" by Masamune Shirow.
‘Masamune Shirow Hyperpage’, viewed 23 August 2012, http://www.takotech.net/mshp/
‘Total Film: The Modern Guide to Movies’, viewed 23 August 2012, http://www.totalfilm.com/

Neal Stephenson publishes "The Diamond Age"

Sep 1, 1996

“The Diamond Age” is considered the most important postcyberpunk novel.
Person, Lawrence, 1999 ‘Notes Toward a Postcyberpunk Manifesto’, "Slashdot", viewed 23 August 2012, http://slashdot.org/story/99/10/08/2123255/notes-toward-a-postcyberpunk-manifesto
"The Diamond Age" cover http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d6/The_Diamond_Age.jpg

"The Matrix" released

Mar 31, 1999

A cyberpunk science fiction action film written and directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski,influenced by Jean Baudrillard's "Simulacra and Simulation", Japanese anime "Ghost in the Shell" by Mamoru Oshii, and Gibson's "Sprawl Trilogy".
'Box Office Mojo: The Matrix', viewed 20 August 2012, http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=matrix.htm.
Gibson, William 2003, ‘The Matrix: Fair Cop’, WilliamGibsonBlog, viewed 23 August 2012, http://williamgibsonblog.blogspot.com.au/2003_01_01_archive.html