Cyberpunk

What is ‘cyberpunk’? What is the definition and meaning of ‘cyberpunk’?

I was initially asking those questions myself, before mentioning my urban fantasy series contains “cyberpunk elves” (I didn’t want to just use the term as a marketing label).

Here’s some information on the term, ‘cyberpunk’ (to have a better idea of what influenced the themes and characters in The Other Side of Life).

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A single sentence definition of ‘cyberpunk’:

Cyberpunk is about expressing (often dark) ideas about human nature, technology and their respective combination in the near future. — Cyberpunk Review

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Cyberpunk: a science-fiction subgenre characterized by countercultural antiheroes trapped in a dehumanized, high-tech future. — Britannica

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Common Themes in Cyberpunk

1. Negative impact of technology on humanity
2. Blurred divisions between man and machine
3. Rigidly divided social order
4. Corporate control over society
5. Emphasis on subcultures and underground movements
6. Widespread access to information (e.g. hacking)
7. Cluttered, super-urban settings with a strong dystopian feel
– Mahalo.com

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Cyberpunk themes include virtual reality, pervasive computing, cyborging and biosculpture, corporate feudalism. — A Political History of SF

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More reading (possibly the two best articles out there on ‘cyberpunk’:

What is Cyberpunk? @ CYBERPUNKED: Journal of Science, Technology, & Society

What is Cyberpunk? @ Cyberpunk Review

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And here are some cyberpunk visuals ;)

1. Photo by Steve Pike

2. Image by mercikos

3. Image by MagicSoul