Virtual Light by William Gibson:
Science Fiction Inventions, Technology and Ideas

Set in California (well, NoCal and SoCal) in 2005, there is a lot of social upheaval (homeless people seize the San Francisco bay bridge for living space, television worship). A bicycle messenger turned pickpocket steals a set of high-tech sunglasses that can see into a special dataset; DatAmerica corporate types pursue. Select an invention:

Canola Oil - a cob in your tank
Vegetable oil refined for use as fuel

Chunker - non-violent weapon
A device that fires small cubes of rubber; a non-lethal form of riot control.

Fractal Knife - more cutting surface
The blade uses a fractal geometry to increase its cutting surface.

Hood Hologram
A hologrammatic display on the outside surface of a car.

Separated At Birth Database
Missing persons database uses similarity to famous people.

Stealth House - toxic dwellings
A home that is entirely sealed, leading to toxic buildup.

 

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Science Fiction
in the News

AIs Turn Marxist Under Bad Management
re: Harl VIncent
(4/7/2026)

Moscow Attacked By Hundreds Of Drones
re: Hal K Wells
(4/5/2026)

Nifty Folding Electric Bicycles!
re: George Parsons Lathrop
(4/3/2026)

FTC: Says Ring Employees Illegally Surveilled Customers
re: Pournelle and Niven
(4/1/2026)

Switzerland May Cap Population At Ten Million
re: Jack Vance
(3/29/2026)

Project Silica Offers 'Long-Term' Digital Storage
re: EE 'Doc' Smith
(3/27/2026)

Can 'Tactical Umbrellas' Shield One From Drones
re: Frank Herbert
(3/25/2026)

Crystalline Structures In Space, You Say?
re: Gene Roddenberry
(3/23/2026)

Garçon! A Menu For Artemis II, S'il Vous Plaît
re: Jules Verne
(3/21/2026)

Amazing Photonic Crystal Light Sail
re: Cordwainer Smith
(3/19/2026)

Blue Collar AI Goes To Work To Mine Its Own Crypto
re: Harry Harrison
(3/17/2026)

Rogue AI Replicated Itself
re: Gregory Benford
(3/15/2026)

HandelBot Helps Two-Handed Robots Learn Piano
re: Herbert Goldstone
(3/13/2026)

Woven Fiber Electronic Skin For Robots
re: Harl VIncent
(2/11/2026)

More SF in the News

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