Cyberpunk's Not Dead

Thank you all. :)

Branwen,

It seems like people these days have a very precise idea of THEIR definition of cyberpunk. I am holding in my hand a copy of “Mirrorshades: The Cyberpunk Anthology.” Among the stories inside are one about a guy who imagines 1920’s ‘future’ stuff in the present and a story about a gargoyle come to life after the death of God. The way we now define “cyberpunk” is much too narrow to allow for stories such as these, which were published in 1986—at the height of the original cyberpunk movement, two years after Neuromancer put the genre on the map.

What many of us see as cyberpunk is not based on the literature, but on movies, cartoons, and video games that came later. CrashCrash wrote a story that included undeniably cyberpunk elements such as ‘bitdrugs’, Yakuza, and consciousness placed into a cyborg shell, and used them to create a tale of love doomed never to succeed—a self-contained story with emotional depth.

You’re welcome to disagree, of course, but that’s the way I see it.

-bluefish

http://ficly.com/challenges/251
Here is the next cyberpunk challenge, everyone who enjoyed this challenge will definately love the next one because it exactly the same hehehehe

Well, the story you chose was good science fiction, but not really very good cyberpunk. I figured you’d stick to what cyberpunk was. THis was missing all the elements except robotic humans. Next time, please state what you really want in a challenge.

This decision was extremely hard. Many of the stories, for one reason or another, were the best at what they did. In the end, I had to pick a story that I, personally, was genuinely moved by. Plus, it’s just plain cool.

Thanks to everyone who submitted. You guys wrote some kick ass cyberpunk.

this was an awesome challenge

First challenge I’ve had to let simmer for a few days (thank you, Draft Mode) until I was really satisfied. Fun stuff.

Okay, more people need to hurry up and enter this contest. I’m dying for more Cyberpunk. Seriously, they’re all pretty good! YAY!

Cyberpunk makes the world go round. For me anyway.

Fantastic challenge- I love this genre! My first attempt was a run at modernizing it… I think I may take another run at it with more classical themes. I welcome feedback!

I’m starting to wish I hadn’t made the contest so long. It’s getting harder and harder to know whom I’d choose. Way to go, everyone. I’m impressed and even a little humbled by your entries.

The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel.

Entered!

W00t I love cyberpunk!

We approve this message.

This is an awesome challenge. Seeing as I’m in the middle of Neuromancer right now, and in a somewhat techy mood, I’ll try to come up with something good.