h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm not sure where that thing about Neuromancer was going but I'm pretty sure it is the book that coined the word 'cyberspace'. It's William Gibson anyway.

Also, what about Generation X by Douglas Coupland?

The word 'beat' with its rock'n'roll meaning was first seen in the literature of the time (Kerouac et al), but I'm not sure anyone knows who said it first or where. Anyone know who first used the phrase rock'n'roll?

Did any of the new words in A Clockwork Orange pass into everyday use? I know I use the word 'ultraviolence' from there but I'm not sure standard people do : )

J

The Glasgow Underground is known as The Clockwork Orange (from its paint job), but I don't know if that really counts as "in wide use". Most of the odd words in that book are East European (Russian?) anyway, and were just borrowed to make the youths sound more alien.

Its probably simplest if I buy a copy of Neuromancer and read it!

More Gibson in on my list, anyway; and I can call it 'research' - yipee!

a researcher called Ben

J - I havent read the Coupland either. Can you tell me more about the Generation X thing?

an ignoramus called Ben

Coupland used Generation X to refer to those who were young adults at a particular time (late 80s I think - check when book was published), and who will now be in their early-mid thirties.
He saw them as struggling for identity, having lost any set roles, and having no way to rebel as previous generations had done (since their parents were often as liberal as them).

The media in general tend to use it for any reasonably youngish people who aren't quite sure what they want from life, sometimes as a term of disparagement (which it was never meant to be).

You might want to check with others before using my opinions as definitive though.

Ah yes. Despite the fact that my ex and I were born about a month apart, he was the first of the gen-Xers and I was the last of the baby-boomers; so much of how you turn out is based on one's parents.

I am a bit run-out on the entry, and feeling a tad lazy. Let me mull it for a while. I *should* read the book too...

Thank you for the suggestion J

Kind regards

B