CyberPunk Defunked

No Hep Bookshelf is complete without a decent section devoted to the many genres in our literary world. The many genres in literature add a much needed spice rack to the kitchen of your collection. In wake of the Beat movement, no genres are better represented with modern classics than The blank Punk Genres, and in the Blank Punk Genres none achieves a better popularity than Cypberpunk. Cypberpunk’s popularity of the 80’s was a mirror reflected at our present future. The direction of the county, held in nuclear arms, has set us on a path towards Dystopia and our path has been marked out in the pages of great works. Here, we offer the best and brightest stars of the CyberPunk Genera as a stepping stone into the worlds of colossal corporations, wet-works, and mirrored shades.

Neuromancer

While some fans, find William Gibson to be a obscure, obtuse, and a down right hack. Many seemingly knowledgeable people find his work to be both enjoyable and understandable. Ergo, William Gibson is the William S. Burrows of Cyberpunk. Both writers whom I don’t understand their popularity but know enough that one has to mention them. In the pages of Neuromancer, you will find futuristic jargon, a superhighway that looks more like a road house, which includes cowboys, and more Rastafarians than you can shake a stick at. I read this book once and couldn’t tell you what it was about. In fact, I wish they would make a movie. Then I could have, at least, a Hollywood understanding of the plot line. Now my copy sits on the bookshelf to collect dust and the attention of people who have heard of the book but never read it. As is the way with classics. Though it should noted Gibson has a great story “13 Views of a Cardboard City”.

Snow Crash

Where Neuromancer hits a couple base lines, pulls in a couple runs, but leaves most readers in the outfield. Neal Stephenson makes every chapter, in his genre defining book “Snow Crash”, a grand slam. In a futuristic world, where the United States has lost control and given over most of its power to the private organizations, a deadly Virus tears through the Metaverse. “Snow Crash”, a psychedelic virus that effects both the on and off line worlds and minds, is all the rage in the binary club world. Intro Hiro Protagonist, ex Pizza Delivery boy, hacker, master sword fighter, and Y.T., a street wise, female skateboard messenger to save the day.Complications arise from the homicidal maniac, Raven, armed with a nuke strapped to his life line and dead set on stopping the hapless heroes. Together can this pair take on the off shore Pentecostal and save what is left of the America? Pick up a copy of Snow Crash to find out.

1984

While 1984 is a classic and could not be consider a CyperPunk book, George Orwell set the foundation with his landscape of fascist dictatorship and air of mob rule. In the pages of 1984, readers are first introduced to the concepts of both “Newspeak” and “DoubleThink”, which are the foundation of modern Cyberpunk. 1984 is the story of a lone man, who stands up against the fascist rule, in a climate of never ending war and mass produced media. In short, the book offers a reflection of our direction in present time. Every year we grow closer to the fated year’s mental state. 1984 was one of the books you were spouse to read as a student and if you passed up the chance in high school, you will want to rectify this situation. Its a timeless classic and a thrill to read, if not scary in light of the modern day world.

For an education in dystopia, you will want to start upon the sure Orwellian foot. As the passion for the depressed human condition increases, you will want to show you know the best, by displaying your copy of “Snow Crash”, and the rest with a copy of Gibson’s “Neuromancer”.