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This page is a collection of print fiction and films exploring Digital Humanities concepts. The selections below are primarily science fiction and are drawn from material the page creator has read or viewed personally.
\begin{tabular}
\subsection{Contents}
\begin{itemize}
\item \hyperlink{Print_Fiction}{1Print Fiction}
\begin{itemize}
\item \hyperlink{Doctorow.2C_Cory._Little_Brother.}{1.1Doctorow, Cory. Little Brother.}
\item \hyperlink{Ellis.2C_Warren_.28writer.29_and_Robertson.2C_Darick_.28pencils.29._Transmetropolitan.}{1.2Ellis, Warren (writer) and Robertson, Darick (pencils). Transmetropolitan.}
\item \hyperlink{Gibson.2C_William._Neuromancer.}{1.3Gibson, William. Neuromancer.}
\item \hyperlink{Lem.2C_Stanislaw._The_Futurological_Congress.}{1.4Lem, Stanislaw. The Futurological Congress.}
\item \hyperlink{Simmons.2C_Dan._The_Hyperion_Cantos.}{1.5Simmons, Dan. The Hyperion Cantos.}
\item \hyperlink{Stephenson.2C_Neal._Cryptonomicon.}{1.6Stephenson, Neal. Cryptonomicon.}
\item \hyperlink{Stross.2C_Charles._Laundry_Series.}{1.7Stross, Charles. Laundry Series.}
\item \hyperlink{Varley.2C_John._.27Press_Enter.E2.96.A0.27_and_.27Overdrawn_at_the_Memory_Bank.27.}{1.8Varley, John. 'Press Enter???' and 'Overdrawn at the Memory Bank'.}
\end{itemize}
\item \hyperlink{Movies}{2Movies}
\begin{itemize}
\item \hyperlink{eXistenZ}{2.1eXistenZ}
\item \hyperlink{Ghost_in_the_Shell}{2.2Ghost in the Shell}
\item \hyperlink{Inception}{2.3Inception}
\item \hyperlink{The_Matrix}{2.4The Matrix}
\item \hyperlink{Minority_Report}{2.5Minority Report}
\end{itemize}
\end{itemize}
\end{tabular}\hypertarget{Print_Fiction}{}
\subsection{Print Fiction}\hypertarget{Doctorow.2C_Cory._Little_Brother.}{}
\subsubsection{Doctorow, Cory. \textit{Little Brother.}}
Written for young adults, \textit{Little Brother} is about the use of social networking technology as a catalyst for social change. It is set in an unsettling near-future San Francisco, in which the Department of Homeland Security has initiated an invasive, tightly-controlled street-level and technological lockdown of the city following a terrorist attack. This book is available for free under the Creative Commons license, as are all of Doctorow???s books.
\href{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Brother_%28Cory_Doctorow_novel%29}{Wikipedia} summary.
Main character w1n5t0n???s \href{http://www.instructables.com/member/w1n5t0n}{Instructables} page.
\href{http://craphound.com/littlebrother/Cory_Doctorow_-_Little_Brother.htm}{Full text} direct from Cory Doctorow.
Cory Doctorow???s collection of links to \href{http://craphound.com/littlebrother/category/reviews/}{reviews}.\hypertarget{Ellis.2C_Warren_.28writer.29_and_Robertson.2C_Darick_.28pencils.29._Transmetropolitan.}{}
\subsubsection{Ellis, Warren (writer) and Robertson, Darick (pencils). \textit{Transmetropolitan.}}
This black humour series of graphic novels, published serially in comic form from 1997 to 2002, follows misanthropic gonzo journalist Spider Jerusalem in a profane, cyberpunk-influenced future megacity. In Spider???s words, from Page 58 of \textit{Transmetropolitan: Back on the Street}: ???Journalism is only a gun. It???s only got one bullet in it, but if you aim it right, that???s all you need. Aim it right, and you can blow a kneecap off the world.??? Notably, Ellis predicts the use of real-time social networking technology, applying it to social action against secession movements, police brutality and corrupt politicians.
Review from \href{http://www.cyberpunkreview.com/books/graphic-novels/transmetropolitan-10-volumes/}{Cyberpunk Review} (contains page scans).
Joel Williams??? review from \href{http://www.coolshite.net/review/2009/05/30/transmetropolitan-comic-review/}{(Cool) Shite on the News.}
\href{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmetropolitan}{Wikipedia} overview.\hypertarget{Gibson.2C_William._Neuromancer.}{}
\subsubsection{Gibson, William. \textit{Neuromancer}.}
The granddaddy of the cyberpunk genre. This is the book that gave us the term ???cyberspace???, depicting an interconnected network of computers with a direct neural GUI interface.
The \textit{Neuromancer} entry from the \href{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuromancer}{Wikipedia}Ian Rowan???s review at \href{http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/nonfiction/neuromancer.htm}{Infinity Plus.}
James Schellenberg???s review at \href{http://www.challengingdestiny.com/reviews/neuromancer.htm}{Challenging Destiny}.
Nicholas Morine???s review at \href{http://www.suite101.com/content/literature-review-william-gibson-neuromancer-a159137}{Suite 101}.\hypertarget{Lem.2C_Stanislaw._The_Futurological_Congress.}{}
\subsubsection{Lem, Stanislaw. \textit{The Futurological Congress}.}
This book is a comedic, cutting look at the use of virtual reality (facilitated here by endless layers of psychoactive drugs) as a social control, and the power of language to suggest new technology. It is notable for its wordplay and neologisms, particularly the skill of the translator in conveying them ??? the novel was originally published in Polish.
\href{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Futurological_Congress}{Wikipedia} summary.Review from \href{http://dannyreviews.com/h/Futurological_Congress.html}{Danny Yee???s Book Reviews}.
Steven H. Silver???s review at \href{http://www.sfsite.com/~silverag/lem.html}{Steven Silver???s Reviews}.
eldavojohn's review at \href{http://books.slashdot.org/story/09/06/08/1326233/The-Futurological-Congress?from=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Slashdot%2Fslashdot+%28Slashdot%29}{Slashdot}.
James Schellenberg???s review at \href{http://www.challengingdestiny.com/reviews/futurological.htm}{Challenging Destiny}.
This discussion of \textit{The Futurological Congress} at the \href{http://www.transparencynow.com/introlem2.htm}{Transparency Now} web page forms the introduction to an on-line collection of essays entitled \href{http://www.transparencynow.com/tablesim.htm}{The Age of Simulation}.\hypertarget{Simmons.2C_Dan._The_Hyperion_Cantos.}{}
\subsubsection{Simmons, Dan. \textit{The Hyperion Cantos}.}
This quartet touches, among numerous other things on the impact of technology, archaeology, anthropology, the future of religion, the relationship of the writer to their work, and the role of the poet. The first novel???s structure consciously mirrors Geoffrey Chaucer???s \textit{Canterbury Tales} and Giovanni Boccaccio's \textit{Decameron}. Characters to watch for include Martin Silenus, the poet (his commentary on the publication industry is particularly interesting) and the cybrid John Keats (a construct whose personality is cobbled together from the life details and works of poet John Keats).
Review of \textit{Hyperion} (Book One) at \href{http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/nonfiction/hyperion.htm}{Infinity Plus}.
Reviews of all four books in the \textit{Hyperion Cantos} at \href{http://www.mostlyfiction.com/scifi/simmons.htm}{MostlyFiction}.
The \href{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperion_cantos}{Wikipedia} entry for the \textit{Hyperion Cantos}.\hypertarget{Stephenson.2C_Neal._Cryptonomicon.}{}
\subsubsection{Stephenson, Neal. \textit{Cryptonomicon}.}
This novel is a dense read composed of two parallel narratives. The first, taking place during World War II and featuring such notables as Alan Turing, covers early computers and war-time cryptography. The second narrative takes place in the modern day, examining the collision of computers, the internet, cryptography and data security.
Alex Kasman???s [www.ams.org/notices/199911/rev-kasman.pdf review], from the American Mathematical Society???s journal (volume 46.11). Please note that this article is in pdf.
Richard Behren???s review at \href{http://www.themodernword.com/review_cryptonomicon.html}{The Modern Word}.
Nathan Bruinooge???s review at \href{http://slashdot.org/books/99/06/23/139229.shtml}{Slashdot}.
The \href{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptonomicon}{Wikipedia} summary.\hypertarget{Stross.2C_Charles._Laundry_Series.}{}
\subsubsection{Stross, Charles. \textit{Laundry Series}.}
The premise of the \textit{Laundry} novels can be summed up thusly: Imagine that higher mathematics and computer algorithms are the key to tapping into the extradimensional realities of Lovecraftian horrors, and these can be embedded with disastrous consequences into networks and PowerPoint presentations. This series is not ???serious??? fiction, combining horror with a skewering of bureaucracy and British spy fiction, but sneaks in things like viral marketing, video surveillance and a department head who refuses to give up his fully-functional memex.
Charles Stross??? \textit{Laundry} short story ???Down on the Farm??? is available for free at \href{http://www.tor.com/stories/2008/07/down-on-the-farm}{Tor.com}.
All resources below refer to \textit{The Atrocity Archives} (Book One):
Summary on the \href{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Atrocity_Archives}{Wikipedia}.
Mark Yon???s review at \href{http://www.sffworld.com/brevoff/383.html}{SFF World}.
Thomas M. Wagner???s review at \href{http://www.sfreviews.net/stross_atrocity_archives.html}{SF Reviews}.\hypertarget{Varley.2C_John._.27Press_Enter.E2.96.A0.27_and_.27Overdrawn_at_the_Memory_Bank.27.}{}
\subsubsection{Varley, John. 'Press Enter???' and 'Overdrawn at the Memory Bank'.}
'Press Enter ???' captures the 1980s computer user experience beautifully, starting with an automated phone call and an \href{http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/content.asp?Bnum=1523}{interactive suicide note.}
'Overdrawn at the Memory Bank' is an examination of the problems of creating and maintaining a convincing virtual environment.
Both short stories are currently available in \textit{The John Varley Reader}.
Reviews of \textit{The John Varley Reader}:
Gregg Thurlbeck???s review at \href{http://www.rambles.net/varley_reader04.html}{Rambles: A Cultural Arts Magazine}.
Doug Eigsti???s review at \href{http://herbboehm.webs.com/reviewsandarticles.htm}{Varley Vade mecum} (scroll to the bottom of the page).\hypertarget{Movies}{}
\subsection{Movies}\hypertarget{eXistenZ}{}
\subsubsection{\textit{eXistenZ}}
Written and directed by David Cronenberg, this movie addresses concepts of game design and virtual reality.
The \href{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existenz}{Wikipedia} summary page.
A collection of reviews at \href{http://www.killermovies.com/e/existenz/reviews/}{Killer Movies}.
???Harry???s Reviews??? column at \href{http://www.aintitcool.com/node/3469}{Ain???t It Cool News}\hypertarget{Ghost_in_the_Shell}{}
\subsubsection{\textit{Ghost in the Shell}}
Directed by Mamoru Oshii, this film is a philosophical adaptation of Masamune Shirow???s manga series covering such topics as the humanity of cyborgs, cybercrime and existential problems of memory in an environment where everyone is connected to a computer network.
The film summary from the \href{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_in_the_Shell_%28film%29}{Wikipedia}.
Review and summary at \href{http://animeworld.com/reviews/ghostintheshell.html}{Anime World}.
Review by SAndman at \href{http://www.explore-science-fiction-movies.com/ghost-in-the-shell.html#axzz15mBwN992}{Explore Science Fiction Movies}.\hypertarget{Inception}{}
\subsubsection{\textit{Inception}}
Christopher Nolan???s most recent film is, at heart, about the mind???s ability to affect reality. It features nested virtual worlds (here directly within the human mind) and the planting of ideas for memetic spread. The fragility of these virtual worlds and the difficulties of maintaining them are a recurrant theme.
The \href{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inception_%28film%29}{Wikipedia} summary page.
Jim Tudor???s review at \href{http://twitchfilm.com/reviews/2010/07/inception-review.php}{Twitch}.
Ryan Fleming???s review at \href{http://www.digitaltrends.com/entertainment/inception-review/}{Digital Trends}.
Martyn Conterio???s review at \href{http://www.filmshaft.com/inception-review/}{Film Shaft}.\textit{Italic text}\hypertarget{The_Matrix}{}
\subsubsection{\textit{The Matrix}}
Larry and Andy Wachowski???s influential action film is set in a virtual reality created to keep the human species quiescent and oblivious, much like the drugs in Stanislaw Lem???s \textit{Futurological Congress}. Its importance lies in the philosophy underpinning the plot, and in the power of knowledge to reveal the truth of the world.
The \href{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Matrix}{Wikipedia} summary page.
Scott Thrill???s retrospective article at \href{http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2009/03/dayintech_0331}{Wired}.
Rob Blackwelder???s review at \href{http://splicedwire.com/99reviews/matrix.html}{SPLICEDwire}.\hypertarget{Minority_Report}{}
\subsubsection{\textit{Minority Report}}
Steven Spielberg adaptation of the Philip K. Dick short story of the same name is notable for the environment created within the film. This includes personally targeted advertisements, interactive hologram home movies and, most remarkably, a gesture-based computer interface.
The \href{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minority_Report_%28film%29}{Wikipedia} entry.
James Berardinelli???s review at \href{http://www.reelviews.net/movies/m/minority_report.html}{Reel Views}.
A collected listing of reviews at \href{http://www.killermovies.com/m/minorityreport/reviews/}{Killer Movies}.
Brian X. Chen???s article Six Real Gadgets Minority Report Predicted Correctly at \href{http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2008/11/four-future-gad/}{Wired}.
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