What happens when technology becomes invasive? In modern contexts, we might say that the spread of AI and surveillance signifies just that, but a literary predecessor to this fear has existed for decades. Enter Cyberpunk Fiction, a subgenre of science fiction that explores the decay underneath technological advances. Lose an arm in a bus accident? Maybe you fell from a hoverboard and irreparably shattered your leg—it happens to the best of us! In a Cyberpunk world, you could easily replace it with a shiny, new cybernetic limb. But stop for a moment and consider: at what cost does all this innovation come?
What is Cyberpunk Fiction?
Cyberpunk Fiction is easily identified by how it exemplifies low life among a high tech world, but it is equally identifiable by its dirty yet futuristic aesthetic. Perhaps the most famous example of a work in this subgenre is William Gibson’s Neuromancer—and for good reason! Although it wasn’t the first work that could be classified as Cyberpunk, it certainly stands as a seminal force in the subgenre. As seen in Neuromancer, Cyberpunk is classified by its reliance on technological innovation, particularly as it applies to body modifications. Despite the capacity for good imbued in this technology, societies in Cyberpunk stories are generally collapsing, revealing the decay underneath the glamorous facade of neon lights and pristine metal.
Consider for a moment the historical context surrounding the creation of the original Cyberpunk novels. It’s the 1960s. The Counterculture Movement is raging. Despite the assertion from various world governments that progress has been made and society is advancing, there is considerable discontent bubbling among subcultures affected by poverty and drug culture. The world watches on as agents in the Vietnam War use morally abhorrent technology to fight. It is this zeitgeist that informed the earliest works of Cyberpunk Fiction.
Common Tropes
Highly advanced technology is a hallmark of Cyberpunk Fiction Imagine hover cars and teleportation arches at the entrance of every city. Think of rejuvenating pods and supercomputers. In Cyberpunk, not even the sky is the limit of technological innovation. However, this technology is rarely utilized for good. It is abused by those in power, and these stories typically revolve around anti-heroes trying to navigate the deluge of rot that streams off the upper class’s greed. As you look to wade alongside them, consider incorporating these tropes:
- Virtual Reality: We may think of virtual reality as a modern concept, but the idea has been around for decades. Think of another early work of Cyberpunk Fiction, Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (perhaps more recognizable by its film adaptation, Blade Runner). The empathy boxes in this book are perfect examples of virtual reality in Cyberpunk stories. If you need a more modern example, think of Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. Despite the utopian intentions of the OASIS, this digital space was quickly co-opted by corporate greed. As you create your own virtual reality worlds, consider how you’ll use them to juxtapose the terrible things happening IRL.
- Body Modifications: If technology advances enough, there’s a chance we will live forever. At least, that’s how it’s treated in Cyberpunk stories. Thanks to technological advances, losing an appendage doesn’t have to be debilitating. In fact, it could make you stronger, and frankly, you’ll look way cooler, too. Think of Cyborg from the Teen Titans. Body modifications not only saved his life but turned him into the hero we know him as. These modifications can give people a second chance at life, but think long and hard about how they’ll react to it. Not everyone goes on to live like a saint.
- Neon: This is more of an aesthetic trope that it seems we are starting to leave behind as our perceptions of technology changes. Back in the day, technology felt almost synonymous with glowing neon lights. As such, many Cyberpunk stories incorporate neon colors into the settings. Think of the glowing blue lights in Tron or the intense green numbers in The Matrix. These colors can help establish the atmosphere of your novel, so think carefully about which ones you’ll choose and how you’ll show them.
Why I Like Cyberpunk Fiction
In general, I’m a big fan of science fiction. Whereas fantasy exists completely outside the boundaries of reality, science fiction shows us possibilities. The possibilities presented in Cyberpunk just so happen to align with my existing worldview: technological innovation is only as good as the people who control it. Cyberpunk fiction creates a great space for exploring the ethical ramifications of creating God with technology, and I’m here for it.
Why YOU Should Explore Cyberpunk Fiction
As mentioned, Cyberpunk Fiction is a great launching pad for ethical, moral, and societal debates. Take your grievances with real world problems out under the neon lights of a Cyberpunk city! If you need help finding subjects to explore, try diving into some of these themes:
- Man vs Machine: Heavy body modification is a major trope in Cyberpunk Fiction. Unlike its cousins, mecha and dieselpunk, Cyberpunk clearly combines man with machines to the point that you have to ask yourself: at what point do we stop being human?
- Utopia vs Dystopia: Cyberpunk cities usually start with lofty, altruistic goals. The technology created was meant to be used for good, and sure, at times it is. Overwhelmingly, though, innovation only serves to show how greed corrupts even the best of intentions. Try showing how the technology you introduce in your Cyberpunk story makes life a little more hellish.
- Class: Certain innovations replicate the skills of laborers so that the rich and powerful no longer need to pay actual people to do that work. To be clear, I am by no means a Luddite. However, the inherent class structures that are created and maintained by certain pieces of technology cannot be ignored. Cyberpunk novels are the perfect place to explore how technology falls along the lines of class and what that says about society as a whole.
Cyberpunk Novels We Love
We all know that I’m a sucker for anything a little kooky or off-kilter. However, I’m also drawn to dark stories that explore the boundaries of ethics. Enter Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash, and we see a book that had me sold within the first few pages. The Terminator-esque description of our hero, Hiro the pizza delivery guy, was just the level of silliness I needed to draw me into this deeply fascinating story. Set in the Metaverse, this story follows Hiro as he tries to stop the infocalypse. Dive into this book if you’re ready for a Cyberpunk adventure that will swallow you like the Metaverse swallows the characters.
Cinder by Marissa Meyer might feel like a stretch, but hear me out. It is a futuristic fairy tale mixed with cyberpunk on roller skates—fast-paced, clever, and full of surprises. Imagine if Cinderella traded her glass slippers for a set of cybernetic legs, her pumpkin for a spaceship, and her prince for… well, a guy with a few secrets of his own. Set in a world where moon people (yes, really) and androids coexist with humans, Cinder takes the classic princess story, gives it a snarky sense of humor, and throws in some high-stakes political intrigue.
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan showcases so many of the elements that make Cyberpunk what it is. Body modification? How about body replacement! Characters have cortical stacks that house their personalities, providing the ability to store a personality and download it into a new “sleeve,” the colloquial name for the replacement bodies. Kovacs, the protagonist, is caught up early in the story with the apparent murder of a powerful man on Earth. To earn his freedom for past crimes, he must venture out and find who seeks to upset the balance of class and power hierarchies that, thanks to the “sleeving” process, have remained unchanged for centuries.
Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits by David Wong (AKA Jason Pargin) has villains with superhuman enhancements and a social network that can track your every move. I haven’t read a lot of Cyberpunk but this book is on my TBR for what sounds like an absolutely wild ride. Zoey Ashe is a young woman from the trailer park and might be the only person who can save the world. This book sounds hilarious and it’s definitely moving to the top of my TBR.