Cyberpunk is a sub-genre of science fiction where the advancement of technology, especially information technology, and the decay of social order go hand in hand.
See also:
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/cyberpunk
See also:
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/cyberpunk
371 books ·
1,182 voters ·
list created July 31st, 2008
by Greyweather (votes) .
Greyweather
2660 books
65 friends
65 friends
Holly
527 books
109 friends
109 friends
Seth
2017 books
432 friends
432 friends
Keely
1032 books
312 friends
312 friends
Ricky
1779 books
47 friends
47 friends
bibliogrrl
984 books
147 friends
147 friends
Chris
474 books
26 friends
26 friends
Firecracker432
95 books
2 friends
2 friends
More voters…
Comments Showing 1-19 of 19 (19 new)
date
newest »
newest »
Having a hard time understanding why some of these books are on here. I just don't think of 'The Android's Dream' as cyberpunk at all.
Morrosseth wrote: "Having a hard time understanding why some of these books are on here. I just don't think of 'The Android's Dream' as cyberpunk at all."
I'm assuming they got that book confused with "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?"
Greyweather wrote: "Morrosseth wrote: "Having a hard time understanding why some of these books are on here. I just don't think of 'The Android's Dream' as cyberpunk at all."
I'm assuming they got that book confused..."
That's a possibility but 'Do Androids Dream..' is already on here as #4
Morrosseth wrote: "Snowcrash is on here twice. #2 and #19"It's just that good? Really Neuromancer should occupy spots 1 thru 5. ;-)
My apologies, but The Man in the High Castle is an Alt-History/Future book, dealing with what might had been if the Axis had won WW2. Although Philip K. Dick has written some fantastic sci-fi and arguably some proto-cyberpunk, this book really shouldn't be on this list. Fans of Neuromancer and Snow Crash are likely looking for similar recommendations, and this definitely doesn't fit.For me, while the works of William Gibson define the genre, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (i.e. "Bladerunner") lies close to the edge, but definitely within the boundaries of cyberpunk. Wikipedia (by no means definitive) defines Cyberpunk as:
Cyberpunk is a postmodern science fiction genre noted for its focus on "high tech and low life." It features advanced science, such as information technology and cybernetics, coupled with a degree of breakdown or radical change in the social order. Cyberpunk plots often center on a conflict among hackers, artificial intelligences, and megacorporations, and tend to be set in a near-future Earth, rather than the far-future settings or galactic vistas.
Bladerunner has the dystopian near future, class separation, advanced cybernetics, conflicts with AI (albeit androids) and the involvement of megacorporations, but it lacks the net/grid aspect that you see in Neuromancer and Snowcrash as well as in other examples of the genre.
Adding to the "That's not cyberpunk!" comments:Cryptonomicon (great book, not CP)
Anathem (same)
America's Hidden History (really?)
(p.s. not the same "Jon" who posted above)Cryptonomicon is not cyberpunk. It does not belong on this list. Not even remotely! It's about metro web designers and discussing web startups at cafés, and some derivative history about cracking Enigma that frankly had no purpose in the story. In any event, it's about as cyberpunk as Driving Miss Daisy.
This has been brought up before but "Do Androids Dream..." is also not cyberpunk. Dystopian future, android hunting? Never once does anyone go "online". It's all physical. This could be a "Dystopian Sci-Fi" list.
Orwell's 1984. More dystopia that has nothing to do with the cyberpunk genre.
PKD's High Castle... Does it even mention computers?
Another worthless list full of non genre gooks. Why do people that have no idea what the lists genre is insist on adding books to lists? And then there is no way to remove them.
Andrew wrote: "Another worthless list full of non genre gooks. Why do people that have no idea what the lists genre is insist on adding books to lists? And then there is no way to remove them."Librarians can remove them. Just ask to become a librarian.
Related News
For devoted bookworms, the new year is an exciting time. Specifics on the year’s upcoming books start making the rounds, along with release...
Anyone can add books to this list.















2. a lot on thsi list predates the cyberpunk genre
not saying this is a bad list but there really needs to be a vote down option