True Names by Vernor Vinge:
Science Fiction Inventions, Technology and Ideas

Wonderful novella-length story that kicked off the cyberpunk era in science fiction. Roger Pollack (aka Mr. Slippery) is a "warlock" of what came to be called cyberspace. He is asked to stop a member of his group who is trying to take over the real world through the datanet. Vinge's prescience in this story is remarkable. Select an invention:

Data Space
Computer storage and processor time rented by the user.

Personality Simulator (Virtual Person)
A computer program that presents the appearance of being a person.

Portal
Sensory experience of a data network.

Virtual World Kiss
Kissing mediated by a computer system.

Virtual world metaphor - early use
use of fanciful imagery to represent real-world data systems in a virtual world.

 

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Science Fiction
in the News

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Should AIs and AI Robots Demand Rights?
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re: Kazuo Ishiguro
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'Pregnancy Humanoids' From China Replace Moms
re: David H. Keller
(7/19/2025)

Man Builds 200 Foot Basement Firing Range
re: Clifford Simak
(7/17/2025)

Russians Create Robot Tank Platoons
re: Philip Nowlan w/D. Calkins
(7/15/2025)

3D-Printed Exoskeleton Learns From Your Hand
re: Fritz Leiber
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Smartwatch Powered By Slime Mold
re: Philip K. Dick
(7/11/2025)

Unmanned Boats Attack At Sea
re: Ray Naylor
(7/9/2025)

Carpentopod Walking Table
re: Terry Pratchett
(7/7/2025)

Iron Drone Raider Counter-UAV Operations
re: Robert Sheckley
(7/5/2025)

More SF in the News

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