Re:Neuromancer and Cultural Influences (Score 1)

...the younger generation taking his works for granted, even un-inspired. They fail to grasp how utterly amazingly accurate many of his early 80's predictions have come to pass.

I have a friend I love dearly, but who is not too bright... One day, he was telling me all about this great book he was reading called Neuromancer. I perked up instantly, thinking that maybe he'd decided to read something influencial (or at least a non-gaming book) for once. He goes on and one about all the cool stuff in it, and how much it's influenced everything... like Shadowrun and Cyberpunk. To him, it's fiction influencing gaming. I tried to explain to him that it influenced a good deal more than some role-playing games, but no, in his world, that's all that matters.

For the purpose of the research, oh esteemed article poster, you might want to consider a thesis more along the lines of what has already been suggested: How SF writers' works compare with what actually occured following the advent of a certain technology. Or, alternately, explore not the influence of SF in science, but in culture. That seems like it might be more fruitful, given all the posts about robots and waterbeds and things.

And to all those out there who think SF never inspires engineers or other people... I can vouch that it does. If I wasn't so terrible at engineering, I would seriously consider a bio-engineering career for the express purpose of putting mirrored insets over my eyes that give me readouts and to install a simstim rig in my head. :) As it is a lot of the things I'd like to make are inspired by something I've read. I've also known a lot of people who decide that something in Star Trek or what have you looks really, really cool, and sit around trying to build it. Most of the time it doesn't work, but sometimes, they end up with some very intersting toys! The point is, you'll never know someone's influences unless you ask them. If you are going to continue with your original project, you might want to try actually contacting inventors of certain technologies or reading old notes to see what did influence them. And don't forget, it's perfectly acceptable to write a thesis where the research disproves your original assumption, as long as you can give conclusive proof either way.

And one final note... I'm curious if anyone knows this... Which came first? Gibson's Idoru and Rei Toei or the actual Japanese pop idol construct/software program Kyoko Date? The publishing date on Idoru is 1996, and I'm fairly certain Kyoko Date wasn't around until after that - but I can't find a date for Date anywhere :)

Congratulate me on my first Slashdot post ever ^_^ I'm now one of you... I feel dirty ;p