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The term cyberpunk was coined in the 1980s as a way to describe a subgenre of science fiction that focuses on what happens when computer networks threaten to engulf the world.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at some specific aspects of cyberpunk, including its origins, its features, and its future.
What is Cyberpunk?
The “punk” in cyberpunk refers to punk rock music, a genre of music that was created to push back against the rock music establishment of the 1970s. The original cyberpunks wanted to take a similar approach with science fiction, and they wanted to challenge what they saw as staid and stodgy writing from authors such as Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury. According to author Bruce Bethke, who coined the term in 1980, the subgenre was about “high tech and low life,” which is why it was frequently set in the sprawls of major cities like New York and Tokyo.
Cyberpunk is most strongly associated with the work of William Gibson, who is known for his 1982 novel Neuromancer. Gibson’s book was the first to feature a character called “cyberpunk” as a main character rather than as a…
