Johnny Mnemonic (short story)
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- For the movie, see Johnny Mnemonic (film).
The short story first appeared in Omni magazine in 1981, and was subsequently included in 1986's Burning Chrome, a collection of Gibson's short fiction. It takes place in the world of Gibson's cyberpunk novels, predating them by some years, and introducing the character Molly, who plays a prominent role in Gibson's Sprawl Trilogy novels.
Summary
Johnny Mnemonic is a data trafficker who has undergone cybernetic surgery to have a data storage system implanted in his head. The system allows him to store digital data too sensitive to risk transmission on computer networks. To keep the cargo secure, the data is locked by a password known only to the intended recipient. He makes a modest living in the Sprawl by physically transporting sensitive information for corporations, underworld crime rings or wealthy individuals.
As the story opens, Johnny is in trouble because the data stored in his brain was originally stolen from the Yakuza (Japanese mafia), and they send out a contract killer to take care of Johnny. Forced to flee, Johnny meets up with Molly, a "Razorgirl" who has undergone extensive body modifications, most notably fingernail blades. Together they plan to retrieve the data stored inside Johnny, and enlist the help of a retired navy dolphin, and a gang of Lo Tek (anti-technology) misfits who live high in the Fuller domes covering the Sprawl.
At the end of the short story Johnny and Molly intend to make a living for themselves by retrieving all previously stored data in Johnny, and blackmail his former customers with it, living with the anti-tech gang. The Sprawl setting and Molly later appear in Neuromancer, where it is revealed the Yakuza eventually caught up with Johnny and killed him.
External links
- [The William Gibson aleph]
- [The Cyberpunk Project] has a (poorly) scanned version of the story.
- [Johnny Mnemonic (Superbit Collection)]
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