Tag Archives: gibson

William Gibson’s Resistance Reading

by BerniecWhittle Posted on May 5, 2017

Mother Jones

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We asked a range of authors and creative types to recommend books that bring solace and/or understanding in this age of cultural and political rancor. More than two dozen responded. Here are selections from the pioneering science-fiction novelist William Gibson.

Latest book: The Peripheral
Also known for: Neuromancer
Reading recommendations: Essential reading for the era of Trump: Outbreak! The Encyclopedia of Extraordinary Social Behavior, by Hilary Evans and Robert Bartholomew. At 784 pages, a literal encyclopedia of the workings of rumor, fear, and the madness of crowds. As the back cover has it, “This Encyclopedia is an authoritative reference on a broad range of topics: collective behavior, deviance, social and perceptual psychology, sociology, history, folklore, religious studies, political science, social anthropology, gender studies, critical thinking, and mental health. Never before have so many sources been brought together on the mesmerizing topic of collective behavior.”

The election of Donald Trump is best understood in terms of collective behavior. Familiarity with the weird and terrifying things we’ve done before, as a species, is essential to understanding what many of us, driven by fear and uncertainty, are doing now. Baffled by Trump’s popularity (such as it is)? Read Evans and Bartholomew on lycanthropy and laughing epidemics. Seriously.

Illustration by Allegra Lockstadt
Master photo by Michael O’Shea
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So far in this series: Daniel Alarcón, Kwame Alexander, Margaret Atwood, W. Kamau Bell, Jeff Chang, T Cooper, Michael Eric Dyson, Dave Eggers, Reza Farazmand, William Gibson, Piper Kerman, Phil Klay, Alex Kotlowitz, Bill McKibben, Rabbi Jack Moline, Siddhartha Mukherjee, Peggy Orenstein, Wendy C. Ortiz, Darryl Pinckney, Karen Russell, George Saunders, Tracy K. Smith, Ayelet Waldman, Gene Luen Yang. (New posts daily.)

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William Gibson’s Resistance Reading

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Re-live the Kingbees’ Rockabilly Revival

by KashaLuciano Posted on May 4, 2015

Mother Jones

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The Kingbees
self-titled
Omnivore

The rise of punk and new wave back in the late ’70s and early ’80s was accompanied by a mini-rockabilly revival, the most notable commercial success being Brian Setzer’s Stray Cats. Another eminently satisfying act was Los Angeles’ Kingbees, a spunky trio fronted by Jamie James, a spirited dude seemingly possessed by the ghost of Buddy Holly. There’s nothing profound on the expanded edition of this crisp 1980 debut album—just a bunch of snappy originals, including the semi-hit “My Mistake” and deft covers of Don Gibson (“Sweet Sweet Girl to Me”), Eddie Cochran (“Somethin’ Else”) and Buddy himself (“Not Fade Away”). But if you need a quick pick-me-up, check out “Shake-Bop” or “Ting-a-Ling.” They’ll put a spring in your step, guaranteed.

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Re-live the Kingbees’ Rockabilly Revival

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These 7 Geek Icons Have Had Enough of #Gamergate. Here’s How They’re Fighting Back.

by AdelaidLoyau Posted on October 18, 2014

Mother Jones

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As the conflict known as #Gamergate continues roiling the internet, some #Gamergaters have been surprised to find that their geek idols aren’t exactly on their side. Take, for example, science fiction author William Gibson, coiner of the term “cyberspace,” who retweeted this on Tuesday:

“Fuck. Fuck. Fucking hell,” an 8chan user wrote on the site’s GamerGate message board after reading through Gibson’s Twitter feed. “I have been waiting for his new book forever but now I dont even want to buy it…I feel devastated.”

Dozens of irate gamers responded with the names of other fallen heroes who’ve “betrayed” them by criticizing macho video game culture. Here’s a sampling of the offending tweets:

From screenwriter and director Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Avengers):

From comedian Patton Oswalt:

From actor and filmmaker Seth Rogen (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up):

(Adam Baldwin has been one of #Gamergate’s most outspoken supporters.)

From actress Felicia Day (The Guild):

From computer game designer Tim Schafer (LucasArts, Double Fine Productions):

From animator Mariel Cartwright (Skullgirls):

Lamented another 8chan user, with no apparent irony: “Unfortunately even misinformed people can put out their opinion on whatever they want, and they’ve got a large platform to do it with via the internet.”

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These 7 Geek Icons Have Had Enough of #Gamergate. Here’s How They’re Fighting Back.

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