Books matching: cyberpunk culture
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- #1
"Burning Chrome" by William Gibson is a collection of short stories that define the subgenre of cyberpunk science fiction. The stories feature tech-savvy characters engaging in hacking, heists, and questionable behavior in a near-future dystopian setting. The writing style is described as gritty, real, and filled with sensory details that create a vivid and immersive experience for the reader.
Mercifully, the whole thing is starting to fade, to be-come an episode. When I do still catch the odd glimpse, it’s peripheral; mere fragments of mad-doctor chrome, confining themselves to the corner ...
(Also, see 100 recommendations for the series Sprawl ) - #2
City Come a-Walkin' by John Shirley explores a cyberpunk world where San Francisco is creating its own superheroes to combat corruption and organized crime control of finance. The plot revolves around the Mafia's conspiracy to take over the city and the citizen's collective unconscious, embodied in City, fighting back. The book delves into the dangers that affect urban life, portraying City as an amoral entity acting in its own interests to defend the creative diversity that sustains urban life. The writing style, while at times rough, is powerful and thought-provoking, with detailed exploration of cyberpunk concepts and a distinct atmosphere.
Three of the seven men in the conference room were thinking solely about supper just then—seven-thirty p.m. on a Thursday. The other four were thinking about supper and about plans for the evening (on... - #3
"Waste Tide" by Chen Qiufan is a science fiction novel set in a near future Chinese island that serves as a dumping ground for tech waste. The story revolves around the people living on the island who process the waste, the power struggles among different clans, and the introduction of American businessmen with a proposal for green recycling. The writing style is described as poetic, character-driven, and providing a visual and visceral experience of the setting. The plot includes elements of psychic powers, advanced technology, and a dystopian ecological backdrop.
The fine, handcrafted wooden model of the junk at the center of the glass display case glistened with the reddish-brown varnish intended to give it an antique air. There was no holographic scene aroun... - #4
'Bang Bang Bodhisattva' by Aubrey Wood is a cyberpunk noir novel that follows Kierra, a transwoman in a polyrelationship, who is navigating a world hostile to those without money or power. Kierra, along with an ex-cop turned private eye named Herrera, gets embroiled in a murder mystery where they are wrongly accused. The story unfolds with risks and twists as they try to find the real killer, showcasing a mix of cyberpunk, noir, and diverse representation in a near-future setting.
The writing style of 'Bang Bang Bodhisattva' is described as fast-paced, engaging, and visually vivid, reminiscent of classic noir and cyberpunk genres. offers a blend of genres that work well together, with well-developed characters, inclusive representation of queer, trans, and non-monogamous individuals, and a plot that keeps readers engaged from beginning to end.
- #5
The Girl Who Was Plugged In by James Tiptree Jr. is a classic sci-fi novella that delves into a dystopian future where society values superficial beauty and influencer culture. The story revolves around a physically deformed girl who gets a chance at a new life by controlling another lab-made body, becoming a celebrity used for product placements. Despite the technology not being entirely plausible, the novella accurately predicts influencer culture and corporate media control. It explores themes of performing femininity, societal pressures on women, and the difference between offline and online personas.
- #6
Seventeen-year-old Hunter works as a trend scout, alongside his friend Jennifer, a trend innovator. When their boss Mandy goes missing, they uncover a conspiracy involving counterfeit shoes that are disrupting the market. As they delve deeper into the mystery, they find themselves entangled in a plot to sabotage the consumer culture they are a part of. The book explores the concept of coolness and how trends are created and manipulated, all set in the backdrop of modern-day New York City.
The narrative follows Hunter and Jen as they navigate the world of cool hunting, corporate manipulation, and societal structures. The story unfolds at a fast pace, blending elements of mystery, adventure, and self-discovery. Through their journey, the characters unravel the layers of deception and intrigue surrounding the missing boss and the group seeking to upset the established order of trends and consumerism. The writing style is engaging, offering a unique perspective on the industry of cool and the dynamics of trendsetting.
I nodded. That week skate meant “cool,” like dope or rad once did. And this girl’s laces were cool. Fuzzy and red, they looped through the middle eyelet repeatedly on one side, spreading out in a fan ... - #7
In "Railsea" by China Mieville, readers are taken on a thrilling adventure in a futuristic world where trains traverse a vast railsea, hunting giant land-dwelling creatures akin to whales. The story follows Sham, a young doctor's apprentice, as he becomes entangled with a captain on a quest to hunt a legendary yellow mole. The narrative is a blend of "Moby Dick" and "Water World," filled with tension, suspense, and unique world-building details that keep readers hooked. Mieville's writing style is described as fast-paced, fun, bursting with ideas, and linguistically idiosyncratic, offering a unique and immersive reading experience.
Here. Weeks out, back when it was colder. The last several days spent fruitlessly pootling through rock passes & in the blue shadows of ice cliffs, late afternoon under a flinty sky. The boy, not yet ... The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer by Neal Stephenson is a futuristic novel that explores the implications of nanotechnology on society. The story follows various characters in a world where technology interacts with different cultures, focusing on a young girl named Nell who is guided by an interactive book called the Primer. The book delves into themes of education, social structures, and the role of technology in shaping the future.
The bells of St. Mark's were ringing changes up on the mountain when Bud skated over to the mod parlor to upgrade his skull gun. Bud had a nice new pair of blades with a top speed of anywhere from a h...- #9
'A Fire in the Sun' by George Alec Effinger is a cyberpunk noir novel set in a future Middle East city, drawing inspiration from the New Orleans French Quarter. The protagonist, Marid Audran, navigates a world filled with unsolved murders, child slavery, and political power struggles while dealing with personal growth, past traumas, and complex relationships. Effinger weaves a dark and intricate tale of corruption, mystery, and the struggle for dominance in a vividly detailed futuristic setting.
WE'D RIDDEN for many days out the coast highway toward Mauretania, the part of Algeria where I'd been born. In that time, even at its lethargic pace, the broken-down old bus had carried us from the ci... - #10
In the book 'Terminal Cafe' by Ian McDonald, the story unfolds in a futuristic setting where nanotechnology has led to the reanimation of the dead as a slave labor class. The narrative follows a group of artists who gather annually on the Day of the Dead at the titular cafe in Necroville, Tijuana. The plot weaves together complex narrative threads, exploring themes of rebellion, primal urges, and the consequences of manipulating life and death. The writing style is described as lush, poetic, and filled with alliteration and haikus, creating a unique reading experience.