William Ford Gibson is an American-Canadian writer, widely known as the "noir prophet" of the cyberpunk subgenre of science fiction. He coined the term "cyberspace" in his short story Burning Chrome (1982) and popularized the concept in his debut novel, Neuromancer (1984). In creating the concept of cyberspace, Gibson developed a vision for the information age prior to the widespread use of the Internet in the 1990s.

Gibson's early works, characterized by their noir and near-future themes, explore the impact of technology, cybernetics, and computer networks on society, creating a "combination of lowlife and high tech." These works were crucial in shaping the iconography of the Information Age and renovating science fiction literature in the 1980s. His Sprawl trilogy, which includes the novels Count Zero (1986) and Mona Lisa Overdrive (1988), expanded on the themes introduced in Neuromancer.

In collaboration with Bruce Sterling, Gibson co-authored The Difference Engine (1990), an influential work in the steampunk subgenre. During the 1990s, he wrote the Bridge trilogy, which examines sociological changes in near-future urban settings and postindustrial society.

Following the events of 9/11, Gibson's novels took on a more realist tone, with works such as Pattern Recognition (2003), Spook Country (2007), and Zero History (2010) set in contemporary settings. His later novels, The Peripheral (2014) and Agency (2020), revisit themes of technology and science fiction.

Throughout his career, Gibson has written more than 20 short stories and 12 critically acclaimed novels, contributed articles to leading publications, and collaborated extensively with artists across various fields. His work has had a significant impact on academia, design, film, literature, music, cyberculture, and technology.

In 1999, The Guardian described Gibson as "probably the most important novelist of the past two decades." He continues to influence and shape the world of science fiction and beyond.