Dictionary.net

a genre of fast-paced science fiction involving oppressive futuristic compterized societies

a writer of science fiction set in a lawless subculture of an oppressive society dominated by computer technology

a programmer who breaks into computer systems in order to steal or change or destroy information as a form of cyber-terrorism

/si:'ber-puhnk/ (Originally coined by SF writer Bruce Bethkeand/or editor Gardner Dozois) A subgenre of SF launched in1982 by William Gibson's epoch-making novel "Neuromancer" (though its roots go back through Vernor Vinge's "True Names"to John Brunner's 1975 novel "The Shockwave Rider"). Gibson'snear-total ignorance of computers and the present-day hackerculture enabled him to speculate about the role of computersand hackers in the future in ways hackers have since foundboth irritatingly na"ive and tremendously stimulating.Gibson's work was widely imitated, in particular by theshort-lived but innovative "Max Headroom" TV series. Seecyberspace, ice, jack in, go flatline.Since 1990 or so, popular culture has included a movement orfashion trend that calls itself "cyberpunk", associatedespecially with the rave/techno subculture. Hackers havemixed feelings about this. On the one hand, self-describedcyberpunks too often seem to be shallow trendoids in blackleather who have substituted enthusiastic blathering abouttechnology for actually learning and *doing* it. Attitude isno substitute for competence. On the other hand, at leastcyberpunks are excited about the right things and properlyrespectful of hacking talent in those who have it. Thegeneral consensus is to tolerate them politely in hopes thatthey'll attract people who grow into being true hackers.