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Our guest tonight is author William Gibson, creator of the "cyberpunk" genre. He is the author of "Neuromancer," "Virtual Light" and other works of fiction, inclding "Johnny Mnemonic". His non-fiction work has appeared in WIRED MAGAZINE. Also with us tonight is Andy, from WIRED Magazine. Welcome, Andy...

WIRED MAG :

Hey everyone.

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And Welcome, William Gibson!

WilliamGib:

Hi, y'all!

ICS Sparky:

Greetings from your fans on AOL, Mr. Gibson!

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Mr Gibson has written a screenplay based on his short story "Johnny Mnemonic". The movie is scheduled to open May 26. And Sony Imagesoft has developed an interactive CD-ROM game. William Gibson is here to answer your questions about Johnny Mnemonic... the shortstory, the motion picture and the CD-ROM. Our first question happens to be about Johnny Mnemonic :-)

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Bazilisk wants to know

Question  :

What do you think of the book of the script of Johnny M.?

WilliamGib:

Very well-produced. I mean, I did write the screenplay...

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Sluggo22 wants to know

Question  :

Mr. Gibson, just curious if the character of Sally Shears (or Molly Millions, etc...) will be in any of your future stories. If love all your work, but she is my favorite (aside, perhaps, from the rastas in space in Neuromancer).

WilliamGib:

I sometimes think about writing a book about Molly's early days, before she had the work done...

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NERFIN has a question for you

Question  :

I know you must get this all the time, and you must be tired of it, Buuuut: What inspired you to design this whole cyberpunk genre?

WilliamGib:

It seemed to me that all of this stuff was already there, in larval form, but it seemed as if nobody noticed it.

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I know that the CD-ROM and the movie have differnces. ACME Stev wants to know

Question  :

Mr. Gibson - is Keanu Reeves the sort of person you had in mind when you wrote Johnny m?

WilliamGib:

Keanu became Johnny for me. He opened up the character in a way that was extremely useful.

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Tell us about writing the screen play. Joe's Brain says

Question  :

Mr. Gibson, how did you like writing a screenplay, and will you do it again soon?

WilliamGib:

Writing a screenplay and writing prose fiction are amazingly unlike one another. I enjoy both, but I can write a book all by myself.

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GayeG has a question about the game

Question  :

When will the CD-ROM be released and does it contain video from the movie?

WilliamGib:

The game is released next week. It incorporates one scene from the movie, but the game itself IS a movie in some new and very real sense.

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Como Mark wonders

Question  :

Where did you get the character for Molly

WilliamGib:

Molly was inspired by the photo of Chrissy Hynde on the first pretenders album, and by the music of Patti Smith.

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Up2 Here wants to know what's next

Question  :

What is your next project?

WilliamGib:

A novel IDORU, about virtual pop stars in the Tokyo of the VIRTUAL LIGHT universe. Out next year from Berkeley Putnam.

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We've had several questions about this

Question  :

"You conceptualized a lot of the ideas people are kicking around today. Is the future unfolding the way you thought it would?

WilliamGib:

Gee, no, notice how I failed to predict AIDS or the collapse of the USSR?

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Trilliann is asking more about the game

Question  :

were you directly involved in the production of the cd rom?

WilliamGib:

No, I was busy with the movie. The game was a total surprise. I was delighted with it, though. It's quite dark and gritty.

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Here's one from Talkytoas

Question  :

Any developments on a Neuromancer or New Rose Hotel movie?

WilliamGib:

NRH is in turnasround at Pressman Films. NEUROMANCER the movie is just a twinkle in my eye...

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GayeG wonders

Question  :

Weren't you going to write a book called "The Wreck of the Mustang Sally"? Is it still in the works? And have you bronzed your typewriter?

WilliamGib:

MUSTANG SALLY fell victim to a contract dispute. I've cast my typewriter in lucite and use it as a door stop.

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Here's one from PoetGreg

Question  :

The genre you created inspired the creation of various films. As with most films repetition has ruled. Do you feel this film has added something new to this genre?

WilliamGib:

I would hope that this film will be seen as the REAL THING. Finally. At least I tried.

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We have several questions here about the differences between the CD ROM and the movie

Question  :

How does the game differ from the movie?

WilliamGib:

Different director, diff. cast, diff. sets.

Question  :

Does Bono from U2 have anything to do with the music for the movie or CD Rom?

WilliamGib:

Bono and Edge wrote one song. It's on the soundtrack CD.

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GayeG has another question about the CD

Question  :

"The game itself IS a movie in some new and very real sense." Care to explain further?

WilliamGib:

There's no on-screen interface device. No cursor. When the image "letterboxes" you have options for keyboard control.

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Linenoiz wonders about influences

Question  :

I love your short informationally dense style. Who influences your work?

WilliamGib:

Thomas Pynchon, Wm. S. Burroughs, Hunter Thompson, all kindsa people.

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SueShap wonders

Question  :

I know you have never been online before what do you think of the real cyberspace experience

WilliamGib:

Kind of like ham radio... Wait til the interface design is completely transparent. When there's no learning curve.

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KiyoT wants to know about the game

Question  :

Who's producing the game? What platforms will it be available on?

WilliamGib:

SONY IMagesoft. PC, Mac, Sony PlayStation. MPEG is in the works.

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Marlyb wants to know

Question  :

How do you feel about the portrayal of Molly in Johnny Mnemonic?

WilliamGib:

Well, she's not called Molly, for franchise reasons. She's Jane and she's extremely hot. Dina Myer. Terrific new actress.

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Grckflint has a question

Question  :

How do you define "cyberpunk" as a genre? What commonalities do you see between your work and that of say, Stevenson and Sterling? Will Jonny M. be the 1st "cyberpunk" film, from your perspective, or does it fit into a film trend going back to Bladerunner??

WilliamGib:

Cyberpunk = bomehemia + computers. We're all concerned with those two, to some extent.

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Vampyre88 wants to know

Question  :

What's your typical workday like as a writer?

WilliamGib:

I have to sit a the machine 9-to-5. Sometimes nothing happens. Sometimes it does. Like waiting for the mail.

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PKHorn has this for you

Question  :

I'm in the process of reading the 'Difference Engine' now. What was the thought behind a Sci-fi book, held in the past? Pre 'Computer'?

WilliamGib:

The Victorian age was entirely about technology. They are our spiritual mirror, as it were.

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Another from Vampyre88

Question  :

Do you outline your characters or plot before beginning a novel, or do you just jump right in with an idea of some kind?

WilliamGib:

No, I just muddle on.

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Como Mark has another question

Question  :

Will there ever be a sequel to Neuromancer?

WilliamGib:

There were two already. You didn't notice?

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Several people want to know if you have played the game, and what you think about it

WilliamGib:

Yes, but only as a cranky alpha version. It's looks great, though. Very innovative design, from the ground up.

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We have several people commenting on the audio book of Neuromancer. How long did it take to record it and were you satisfied with the results?

WilliamGib:

It took four days in the studio. I've never been able to listen to it, because I hate the sound of my own voice, but Edge told me he likes it a lot.

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BLEMM has a question for you

Question  :

Do you ever get the urge to try acting in one of your films? Which character would you like to be seen as?

WilliamGib:

Actually, no. Maybe an extra in a street scene.

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StayUpLate wants to know about the game

Question  :

If not already available, where can one buy the game?

WilliamGib:

Next week! Software stores all over the place...

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Garrette wants some advice

Question  :

Your stunning story about the holographic aerial dogfights (can't remember the name). What pointers can you give for making memorable a character who by all rights should fade into the crowd of other thugs, as you did so well with your anti-hero?

WilliamGib:

Base them on bits of real peoplw, rather than bits of tv characters...

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Crank wants to know

Question  :

Are you hoping for Johnny Mnemonic to bring your imagination into the mainstream, in a way that the Hollywood treatment of Neuromancer was unable to do?

WilliamGib:

No, not in the sense that I think of Hollywood as a bigger or more important pool. I don't exactly have an agenda or a plan for global conquest. I'm just exploring things to do with art.

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PeterD106 has an interesting question

Question  :

In your mind is NAS -- a disease caused by technology -- closer to science or fiction?

WilliamGib:

No, NAS is a metaphor, although I don't want to be more specific.

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Here's one from JCGergori

Question  :

At what point did the Neuromancer universe become difficult to keep working in and how long do you think the Virtual Light universe will last?

WilliamGib:

I never really planned it as a trilogy. It got to feel like trying reupholster a sofa with too small a piece of material.

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SueShap says

OnlineHost:

Bill, Marty wants to know are you going to be ready for dinner ontime tonight???

WilliamGib:

Yes. I'll be back at the hotel by 9:00.

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JoesBrain wants to know about VOODOO. Will you continue with the voodoo theme in future cyberspace novels?

WilliamGib:

Not in the sense that I ever intend to revive them.

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Another from Vampyre88

Question  :

Any plans for writing some sort of interactive novel in the future?

OnlineHost:

WilliamGib has left the room.

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Well....that was interesting... Mr Gibson will be right back, we think

ICS Sparky:

A cyberpunt?

WIRED MAG :

Hey folks. Sorry about that. Gibson's line just died.

WIRED MAG :

he'll be back soon. Hang on.

OnlineHost:

WilliamGib has entered the room.

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Welcome back

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What about acting?

Question  :

Speaking of acting, how about that walk-on in Wild Palms? How did you feel about that?

WilliamGib:

A favor to my buddy Bruce Wagner, who wrote it. Not my favorite thing to do, though.

Question  :

To what extent do you see electronic technology thinking and actingon its own behalf?

WilliamGib:

Well, um, increasingly, right?

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Fyrie wants to know What kind of music do you like

WilliamGib:

I'm a big SISTERS OF MERCY fan.

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We can take one more question

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MYQX asks

Question  :

How do you feel about the novelization of the movie? Do you feel that the novel, written by someone other than yourself, maintains the feeling of a "Gibson" novel?

WilliamGib:

Well, a novelization isn't really a novel... But Terry Bisson, who did this one, is a friend of mine, and a good writer in his own right.

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Our guest tonight has been William Gibson author of Johnny Mnemonic. The movie will be released May 26 and the CD-ROM will be available on May 23. Thank you audience for your wonderful questions!

ICS Sparky:

Thank you for being with us, William Gibson! It was an honor to have you here.

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Thank you William Gibson!

WilliamGib:

Bye-bye, folks! Thanks for coming. Virtually. Heh...