William Gibson is not one of the authors that spits out novels like a machine – in his long and fruitful career he has only published 11 novels andof short stories and articles in the tens each. Still his impact on modern literature was huge – the “noir prophet” of the cyberpunk subgenre (that he was one of the pioneers of) has predicted the rise of reality television, virtual reality, video games and the internet. He is a Hugo and Nebula award winning science fiction writer, with a special eye for what the future might bring.

Youths kick a gay rights activist during a protest against a proposed new law termed by the State Duma, the lower house of Parliament, as “against advocating the rejection of traditional family values” in central Moscow June 11, 2013. (Photo by Maxim Shemetov/Reuters)

This photo taken on December 10, 2023 shows female members of the Mandalay People's Defense Forces (MDY-PDF) heading to the frontline amid clashes with the Myanmar military in northern Shan State. In the hills of northern Myanmar young women fly combat drones, treat wounded comrades and patrol the frontlines, new roles in the battle to overthrow the military junta. (Photo by AFP Photo/Stringer)

Geraldine Moodie overcame harsh conditions to become western Canada’s first professional female photographer, capturing beautiful images in the country’s most remote regions. An exhibition, “North of Ordinary: The Arctic Photographs of Geraldine and Douglas Moodie”, is at Glenbow, Calgary, 18 February – 10 September. Here: Inuit woman, Kootucktuck, in her beaded attigi. Fullerton Harbour, Nunavut, February 1905. (Photo by Geraldine Moodie/The Guardian)

An eight-year-old St Bernard with the longest canine tongue in the world, measuring 18.58cm (7.31in) in length, as recorded by the Guinness World Records: Amazing Animals, in South Dakota, USA. (Photo by Kevin Scott Ramos/GWR/PA Wire)

Policemen escort a Femen activist who broke into a rally of Franco's dictatorship regimen followers in Madrid, Spain, 28 March 2021. (Photo by Zipi/EPA/EFE)

The stunning coastline of South Wales in UK on July 12, 2025 was once again turned into a wild and wonderful natural playground as Love Trails Festival powered by Garmin welcomed around 5,000 people to the Gower Peninsula for a long weekend of music, trail running, adventure, movement and community. (Photo by Giulia Spadafora)

British model Jourdan Dunn arrives for the premiere of “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival, in Cannes, France, 22 May 2017. The movie is presented in the Official Competition of the festival which runs from 17 to 28 May. Dress by Elie Saab Haute Couture. (Photo by Julien Warnand/EPA)