Austin American-Statesman from Austin, Texas • 90

F2 Austin American-Statesman Friday, October 10, 1986 Success surprises science-fiction author 'All this cyberpunk stuff and the controversy it has caused within science fiction is exactly the opposite of what I expected. I wasn't trying to start a movement or anything like William Gibson RAMADA INN TOWNLAKE RESTAURANT FRL: SEAFEST BUFFET 12.95 Features Live Maine Lobster 6 p.m. -10 p.m. Champagne Brunch 9.95 11-2 p.m. Super Lunch Buffet 4.95 11-2 p.m.

DAILY BAR HAPPY HOUR 11-8 P.M. 1001 I-35 South Tel: 444-361 1 The soft-spoken Gibson is a 38-year-old married father of two who In the course of the telephone Interview had to repeatedly excuse himself to "subdue the kids." While supportive of his fellow cyber-punkers, many of whom are working out of Austin, he said his involvement, however significant, was accidental. "All this cyberpunk stuff and the controversy it has caused within science fiction is exactly the opposite of what I expected. I wasn't trying to start a movement or anything like that. To me the science-fiction world seemed like the pre-Willie Nelson country-music scene, good hearted but not crazy enough.

I just wanted to put something in it that reflected a more modern attitude. For better or worse I think I've explain." Gibson doesn't exactly personify the cyberpunk lifestyle. He was born in South Carolina and raised in Virginia, but for the last decade he's been a resident of Vancouver. By Michael Point Special to the American-Statesman Rolling Stone magazine has dubbed him the official "hot" science-fiction author of the year. His first novel, the multi-award-winning Neuromancer, and his story Burning Chrome have Hollywood options.

His writing style has become the vanguard of the newest literary wave in science fiction, the "cyberpunk" movement, and he says he's just now "really getting my-career together." Meet William Gibson, the most significant new writer In science fiction and the guest of honor this weekend at ArmadilloCon 8, Austin's annual science-fiction convention. Gibson's commercial success has been considerable and unexpected, surprising the author himself. biggest hope when I started writing science fiction was that maybe I could become a cult favorite in France or something like that. I thought I'd get an occasional fan letter from overseas, but I never imagined Hollywood would care what I was doing or that I'd be the guest of honor at science-fiction conventions. I never expected success of the type that has happened.

I'm certainly not disappointed, however." The cyberpunk style is a volatile mix of high-tech situations and low-life characters that are powered by CREOLE RESTAURANT vivid, almost hallucinatory Imagery and tight plotting. It has decided punkish overtones but also expresses a fascination with technology, particularly computers. Gibson, in a Rolling Stone interview, said, "I want to eroticize computers, the way Bruce Springsteen eroticized cars," a philosophy that sums up the techno emphasis of the style. But the repeated nihilistic touches built into the stories maintain the punk sensibility. The cyberpunk approach has generated an enormous amount of controversy, but Gibson prefers to stay above the literary debate.

"I'm not really sure what cyberpunk means, but I suppose it's useful as a tipoff to people that what they're going to read Is a little wilder than most science fiction. I think it's a lot easier to recognize than to SERVING ONLY THE FINEST FRESHEST NEW ORLEANS SEAFOOD SAT, SUN. BRUNCH 11-2 Buy any Entree and receive another Entree ol equal or leu value Free. Valid lor Dinner from jftf 6-9 pm or Weekend Brunch from 1 1 am 2 pm wtththlead. Exp.1085 I SHOAL CREEK PLAZA W.

ANDERSON AT LOOP 1 453-9945 Filet Mignon 95 Fat Free 9.25 Fried Fantail Shrimp 8.95 Broiled Red Snapper 8.75 Chopped Steak Con Queso 7.95 Served with a choice of baked potato, rice pllaf or corn-on-the-cob and all the soup and salad you can eat from the '52 MGB Salad Car. $3.50 All Children Entrees PEKING si Convention draws fans of futurism Reservation accepted every day 444-3537 600 E. Riverside FREE HOME DELIVERY Mexican dinners delivered to your home or business 6:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m. Monday Friday Taco Time 443-5342 CHINESE RESTAURANT 10 Off DAILY DINNER SPECIAL ALL YOU CAN EAT PARTY WELCOME! 4 OR 5 PERSONS EXTRA MOO GOO GAI PAN YOU CAN ORDER ALL THE FOLLOWING DISHESI AND ORDER AGAIN.

AGAIN SOUP SWEET a SOUR PORK EGG ROLL ALMOND CHICKEN FRIED RICE PEPPER STEAK FRIED WONTON OVER 6 PERSONS EXTRA MOO GOO GAI PAN HOT SPICY PORK Weekend Special Friday, Saturday Sunday 6534 Burnet Rd. (512)453-1809 mMtm "ST lie PEKING mm CHINESE RESTAURANT make your home more comfortable or your life more fun can be found In classified. Read classified every day. 10 off DAILY DINNER SPECIAL ALL YOU CAN EAT PARTY WELCOMEI 4 OR 5 PERSONS EXTRA ft IMopl. claitili.d CLASSIFIED WORKS 445-4000 Austin Amerif Dn-Sinitsmon MOO GOO GAI PAN YOU CAN ORDER ALL THE FOLLOWING DISHESI AND ORDER AGAIN.

I SOUP SWEET SOUR PORK EGG ROLL ALMOND CHICKEN FRIED RICE PEPPER STEAK FRIED WONTON Includes: Potato and Toast, All You Can Eat Soup Salad Bar, All You Can Eat Hot Foods Bar, Potato Bar, All You Can Eat Cobbler, Free Ice Cream Cone! OVER 6 PERSONS EXTRA MOO GOO GAI PAN HOT SPICY PORK 6534 Burnet Rd. (512)453-1809 I 1 flM -s I 1 I fgr I boia-bize uii sirlqhj1 'STOCKADE PAINTINGS slowas Ivy 1 yssmsa- 1 1 Other Sizes Priced As Low As $81! I 7 By Michael Point Sfiwjial to the American-Statesman high-tech reputation is a recent development, but the city's rotelin the futuristic world of science fiction has been substantial for years. pr. Chad Oliver, who was writing popular SF 30 years ago, is the godfather of the Austin SF scene, but in years younger authors have 'been attracting international attention for Austin as a SF center. That attention, fueled heavily by Austin lauthors like Bruce Sterling and Howard Waldop being repeatedly 'nominated for the genre's top awards, resulted in the city being the site of the North American Science Fiction convention last summer.

This weekend, Austin's SF reputation will be polished further when the eighth annual Austin science fiction convention, ArmadilloCon 8, happens at the Sheraton Crest with a star-studded cast of SF figures scheduled to appear. The ArmadilloCons have traditionally focused more on the literary aspects of the genre than other conventions and this year Is no exception. Although not billed as such, the convention will be a celebration of ''cyberpunk," science fiction's hottest and most widely debated stylistic movement. Many of the movement's best-known authors will be represented and there will be two separate panel discussions attempting to define cyberpunk. A similar panel at last year's national convention failed spectacularly given: the same task.

This year's ArmadilloCon has award-winning author William Gibson (Neuromancer, Count Zero) as guest of honor, along with a surprisingly large list of major authors, ranging from grandmasters Robert Sheckley and Chad Oliver to some of the brightest new talents like Lucius Shephard and Sterling. Other authors involved in the convention activities include Waldrop, John Shirley, Neal Barrett, George Alec Effinger and Gardner Dozois. Also attending will be representatives from other areas of publishing. Omni magazine fiction editor Ellen Datlow, who has been Instrumental in getting many cyberpunk authors into print, will participate, as book reviewer extraordin-are: Debbie Notkln, who writes for Locus, the genre's most honored news magazine. The literary activities of the convention will Include numerous panel discussions on everything from running a specialty book store to creating with computers.

But the convention isn't all serious. SF fans can't gather without fun and games, no matter what the circumstances. There will be an art show and continuous video programming, a wide variety of gaming competitions and a gala masked ball" with prizes for the best costume. An art and book auction Is planned, and dealers' tables will be to sell various SF items of Interest. A selection of esoteric SF movie treats, such as Godzilla vs.

Mega-loth Throne ot Blood, The Fly (the original), The Lost World of Sin-bad, The Quest and the Immortal Wrestling Women vs. The Aztec Mujnmy also will be screened. And last but not least Is the unadvertlsed attraction of the convention, dusk-to-dawn parties that sometimes become as otherworldly as the fiction Itspir The Quality of these El I i Oil Paintings will Amaze You I I i 4, LOOK At these Prices 5x7 Oil Paintings S8.00 8x10 Oil Paintings $9.50 12x16 Oil Paintings. J10-S18 OVER 200 ARTISTS REPRESEN TED it These Oil Paintings Sell Elsewhere For up to $3001! YOU Don't WANT TO MISS S15-S20 up $19 up $39 up 16x20 Oil Paintings. 20x24 Oil Paintings.

24x36 Oil Paintings. 24x48 Oil Paintings. at Him I MasterCard I inn RTrmBo JSBnESEia "These just in -fabulous entrees!" Try our succulent Italian chicken, sauteed shrimp, chicken taco salad, or other new dishes -they're the hottest story in town! "And our new weekend Brunch!" Delectable favorites served Saturday and Sunday till 3 p.m. Get all the details at Uennigan's. When you're hungry for fun.SM Come visit our newesl location at the Corner of Barton Springs Rd.

and Riverside 472-7902 1-35 North and Hwy 183451-7953 1 1986 SARRtuim Corp AT 290.