Mirrorshades: The Cyberpunk Anthology

Historical Context and Significance

«Mirrorshades: The Cyberpunk Anthology» edited by Bruce Sterling is one of the key works that defined the cyberpunk genre in literature. Released in 1986, this anthology gathered works from leading authors of the genre, such as William Gibson, Pat Cadigan, and Rudy Rucker. The book played a significant role in shaping and popularizing cyberpunk, offering readers a dark and technologically rich future where the lines between human and machine are blurred. The influence of the anthology is felt across various cultural spheres, including film, music, and video games, where cyberpunk themes continue to inspire creators to explore questions of identity, control, and technology. «Mirrorshades» also helped cement the aesthetic and thematic elements of cyberpunk, such as virtual reality, hackers, and megacorporations, which have become integral to the genre.