Cyber Reader: Critical Writings for the Digital Era [Hardcover]

Neil Spiller (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0714840718 | ISBN-13: 978-0714840710 | Publication Date: March 19, 2002

This text is an introduction to key texts related to the theme of cyberspace - the virtual communicative space created by digital technologies - offering the reader an overview of cyberspace theories through extracts of some of the best writings of this wide-ranging subject. Cyberspace culture is itself cross-disciplinary: this book includes texts from a variety of fields concerned with cyberspace - science, complexity theory, philosophy and metaphysics, sexual politics, art and architecture as well as science fiction - illustrating how these different disciplines inform one another, providing an illuminating and original collection of key extracts from books and essays on the subject. The extracts are presented in chronological order, beginning with some precursors to cyberspace theory as we know it today. Extracts by early theoreticians such as Charles Babbage or Alan Turing, or writers such as E.M. Forster help to give a historical perspective to the subject. Each extract is prefaced by a short introduction that contextualizes the piece, explains the key themes and terms alluded to in the extract, and cross-refers it to other texts in the book. This text is an informative guide to cyberspace culture and should be an excellent intrduction for students working within the disciplines covered in the book.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Neil Spiller is Reader of Architecture and Digital Theory at the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College, London. He has already published architectural titles related to cyberspace - Digital Dreams: Architecture and the new Alchemic Technologies (Ellipsis, London, 1998/WW Norton, US) and two issues of Architectural Design magazine, 'Architects in Cyberspace I and II' - as well as a monograph on his own architecture and writings Maverick Deviations: Architectural Works 1985-98 (Wiley-Academy, London, 2000). Author's Residence: London SW 18

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Phaidon Press (March 19, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0714840718
• ISBN-13: 978-0714840710
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #641,887 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An impressive and erudite anthology of texts and essays, June 5, 2002

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cyber Reader: Critical Writings for the Digital Era (Hardcover)

Cyber_Reader compiled and edited by Neil Spiller is an impressive and erudite anthology of texts and essays on the theme of cyberspace. Most of the essays are from the 1990s, though a few appropriate excerpts from earlier cyberspace history are included. An amazing and eclectic selection of learned opinions and analysis make Cyber_Reader an engaging, informative, seminal, at times challenging, and always highly recommended study of how virtual reality shapes our living world to this very day.