Cyberpunk’s founding prophet is coming to Duke.
The Gothic Bookshop will host award-winning author William Gibson next Tuesday as part of the tour to promote his new book, Zero History.
Gibson is a prolific force in the world of science fiction, winning the Hugo, Nebula and Philip K. Dick awards with novels such as Neuromancer, Virtual Light and the New York Times best-seller Pattern Recognition.
“To get an idea of Gibson’s importance to the genre, consider this,” Samuel Montgomery-Blinn, editor and publisher of local speculative fiction magazine Bull Spec, wrote in an e-mail. “He coined the term ‘cyberspace.’ He is the ‘noir prophet’ of the cyberpunk literary movement and has managed to do something which very few writers do—transition from writing in the edges of genre fiction to writing mainstream best-sellers, all while keeping and honing his distinct voice.”
Zero History is Gibson’s third book set in the present, finishing a trilogy that began with Pattern Recognition in 2003 and continued with Spook Country in 2007. Gibson has consistently worked in trilogies throughout his career, and the Bigend trilogy, which includes Zero History, is his third.
The novel represents a departure from his traditional genre—generally grounded in science fiction and futuristic themes—and examines the hectic world of 21st-century consumerism, focusing on the ideas of brand names, marketing and post-Sept. 11 paranoia.
Gibson is well known in the literary world at Duke, as professors have written about him and taught his works in their classes, said Bill Verner, bookseller at the Gothic Bookshop. Although the bookstore has previously sponsored author signings on campus, Verner said he has never actively sought out an author.
When he heard about Gibson’s tour, however, Verner immediately wanted to bring him to campus.
“We thought that this was an event that really belongs at Duke,” he said. “It was a gift we could give to the campus.”
Verner added that he is also excited about the content of Zero History, which draws from both thriller and realist genres.
“He’s always had his finger on the pulse of what was about to happen to us,” he said. “For him to turn to contemporary time... it’s thrilling.”
Following Durham, Gibson will continue his book tour in cities like New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and London.
“It’s a real testament to the Triangle, Durham and Duke that [Gibson] is bringing his latest book here,” Montgomery-Blinn said.
William Gibson will speak and give a reading Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. in Reynolds Theater in the Bryan Center. Admission is free to the general public. Gibson will sign copies of Zero History purchased at the Gothic Bookstore, which will be offered at 20 percent off the cover price.
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