THEMES / CONCEPTS

• A.I.: This is Rucker's big theme throughout much of his work. The system Anderson puts together--of competition for scarce resources and "sexual" reproduction of programs--is similar to the software ideas of artificial life and genetic algorithms. [ESSAY]

• THE CORPORATION: The Corporation isn't as big a factor in Rucker's works as some by other cyberpunk authors, but Rucker draws a very interesting parallel between the one traditional "Corp" that exists and the Big Boppers. Why not? Both are decentralized entities (the corporation is legally an individual) with numerous employees. Both are served by a wide range of skills. Both acquire members that they believe will help their survival. It's neat (and disturbing) insight on Rucker's part.

• DRUGS: Lots and lots. After reading White Light, I picture Rucker as a graying hippie professor who did way too much acid in his youth and has levelled out to doing just the right amount in his dotage. These books do nothing to disavail me of that notion. Come on, a character is named "Stay High"!

• ORBITAL SOCIETY: It's not a space station, but the Moon certainly orbits the Earth. There's an uneasy balance between the humans and boppers on the Moon, unlike many cyberpunk books, where the orbitals have completely taken over.

• POSTHUMANISM: Cobb Anderson, one of the principal characters, is a silicon human. Rucker also comes up with the (possibly unique) "meat robot," a robot-designed simulated human. [ESSAY]