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Genre Guide
Science Fiction - Cyberpunk - Christchurch City Libraries
By:
ChristchurchLib
Christchurch City Libraries Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi
Staff-created list
Jack yourself into a dystopian world where low lives and high tech collide - often in a disastrous fashion. Cyberpunk stories explore the twisted intersection of humanity and robotics, set against an explosive and gritty backdrop, rife with social decay. If you're into worlds where hackers, artificial intelligence and shady megacorporations coexist, these are the books for you. A Christchurch City Libraries list.
By:
ChristchurchLib
Christchurch City Libraries Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi
17 items
17 items
Book - 2020
The city of Neo Songdo is a testament to the failure of rampant capitalism. Poverty, crime and degradation are concealed by a thin veneer of augmented rea...Show more
The city of Neo Songdo is a testament to the failure of rampant capitalism. Poverty, crime and degradation are concealed by a thin veneer of augmented reality while residents are kept distracted by a massively popular online game. Somewhere in the middle of all of this, a simple thief finds himself embroiled in a heist that turns out to be much more dangerous than he ever anticipated. An easy read with a snappy plot and fascinating world building.
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The city of Neo Songdo is a testament to the failure of rampant capitalism. Poverty, crime and degradation are concealed by a thin veneer of augmented rea...Show more
The city of Neo Songdo is a testament to the failure of rampant capitalism. Poverty, crime and degradation are concealed by a thin veneer of augmented reality while residents are kept distracted by a massively popular online game. Somewhere in the middle of all of this, a simple thief finds himself embroiled in a heist that turns out to be much more dangerous than he ever anticipated. An easy read with a snappy plot and fascinating world building.
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Book - 2008
Cyberpunk noir at it's very best, Altered Carbon explores the concept of transferrable conciousness in disgustingly dark detail. Our reluctant antihero, T...Show more
Cyberpunk noir at it's very best, Altered Carbon explores the concept of transferrable conciousness in disgustingly dark detail. Our reluctant antihero, Takeshi Kovacs, is shunted into an unfamiliar body and forced to investigate the murder of an obscenely wealthy victim. Soaked in conspiracy and violence, Altered Carbon is explicit, gritty and gripping from cover to cover.
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Cyberpunk noir at it's very best, Altered Carbon explores the concept of transferrable conciousness in disgustingly dark detail. Our reluctant antihero, T...Show more
Cyberpunk noir at it's very best, Altered Carbon explores the concept of transferrable conciousness in disgustingly dark detail. Our reluctant antihero, Takeshi Kovacs, is shunted into an unfamiliar body and forced to investigate the murder of an obscenely wealthy victim. Soaked in conspiracy and violence, Altered Carbon is explicit, gritty and gripping from cover to cover.
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Book - 1999
Perhaps the most influential cyberpunk author to have lived, Philip K. Dick's name is synonymous with the genre. In this classic, a bounty hunter charged ...Show more
Perhaps the most influential cyberpunk author to have lived, Philip K. Dick's name is synonymous with the genre. In this classic, a bounty hunter charged with "retiring" androids finds that the line between man and machine isn't as clear as one might think. If the premise sounds familiar, it's because this is the novel that inspired 'Bladerunner'.
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Perhaps the most influential cyberpunk author to have lived, Philip K. Dick's name is synonymous with the genre. In this classic, a bounty hunter charged ...Show more
Perhaps the most influential cyberpunk author to have lived, Philip K. Dick's name is synonymous with the genre. In this classic, a bounty hunter charged with "retiring" androids finds that the line between man and machine isn't as clear as one might think. If the premise sounds familiar, it's because this is the novel that inspired 'Bladerunner'.
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Book - 1984
A multi-award winning classic, William Gibson's 'Neuromancer' pits a scarred computer hacker against a powerful artificial intelligence in what could be h...Show more
A multi-award winning classic, William Gibson's 'Neuromancer' pits a scarred computer hacker against a powerful artificial intelligence in what could be his last job ever. The world that Gibson creates is vivid and actualised—and will be especially rewarding for a reader who is willing to immerse themselves in his work.
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A multi-award winning classic, William Gibson's 'Neuromancer' pits a scarred computer hacker against a powerful artificial intelligence in what could be h...Show more
A multi-award winning classic, William Gibson's 'Neuromancer' pits a scarred computer hacker against a powerful artificial intelligence in what could be his last job ever. The world that Gibson creates is vivid and actualised—and will be especially rewarding for a reader who is willing to immerse themselves in his work.
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Book - 2017
Sea levels have risen, complex AI systems run businesses, and the divide between rich and poor has only grown more disparate. This story brings together t...Show more
Sea levels have risen, complex AI systems run businesses, and the divide between rich and poor has only grown more disparate. This story brings together three characters from very different walks of life, as an unpredictable series of events intertwines their fates. Give this book a try if you like complex plots, diverse characters and philosophical conundrums.
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Sea levels have risen, complex AI systems run businesses, and the divide between rich and poor has only grown more disparate. This story brings together t...Show more
Sea levels have risen, complex AI systems run businesses, and the divide between rich and poor has only grown more disparate. This story brings together three characters from very different walks of life, as an unpredictable series of events intertwines their fates. Give this book a try if you like complex plots, diverse characters and philosophical conundrums.
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And Other Stories
Book - 1997
Before reading this short story, ensure that you think about when it was originally written—112 years ago! E.M. Forster makes some predictions about an all-too-familiar dystopian future that are just plain "Nostradamic" in quality.
Before reading this short story, ensure that you think about when it was originally written—112 years ago! E.M. Forster makes some predictions about an all-too-familiar dystopian future that are just plain "Nostradamic" in quality.
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Before reading this short story, ensure that you think about when it was originally written—112 years ago! E.M. Forster makes some predictions about an all-too-familiar dystopian future that are just plain "Nostradamic" in quality.
Before reading this short story, ensure that you think about when it was originally written—112 years ago! E.M. Forster makes some predictions about an all-too-familiar dystopian future that are just plain "Nostradamic" in quality.
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Book - 2005
There's a psychopathic murderer on the loose in a near-future Middle-Eastern slum. As depravity and vice continue to reign free, Marid, a local detective-...Show more
There's a psychopathic murderer on the loose in a near-future Middle-Eastern slum. As depravity and vice continue to reign free, Marid, a local detective-for-hire, is sent to hunt the killer down before they strike again. With phenomenal world-building, this highly imaginative setting will transport you to a terrifying time and place, where technology allows us to alter every element of ourselves - including our personalities.
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There's a psychopathic murderer on the loose in a near-future Middle-Eastern slum. As depravity and vice continue to reign free, Marid, a local detective-...Show more
There's a psychopathic murderer on the loose in a near-future Middle-Eastern slum. As depravity and vice continue to reign free, Marid, a local detective-for-hire, is sent to hunt the killer down before they strike again. With phenomenal world-building, this highly imaginative setting will transport you to a terrifying time and place, where technology allows us to alter every element of ourselves - including our personalities.
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Stories of the Future Present
Book - 2007
Sample some of Cory Doctorow's best work in this colourful collection of short stories. While they might be packed with jargon, deciphering the meaning be...Show more
Sample some of Cory Doctorow's best work in this colourful collection of short stories. While they might be packed with jargon, deciphering the meaning behind the technobabble should be an easy feat for anyone living in today's iPad society. Buckle in for energetic action, engaging characters and a distinctly wry sense of humour.
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Sample some of Cory Doctorow's best work in this colourful collection of short stories. While they might be packed with jargon, deciphering the meaning be...Show more
Sample some of Cory Doctorow's best work in this colourful collection of short stories. While they might be packed with jargon, deciphering the meaning behind the technobabble should be an easy feat for anyone living in today's iPad society. Buckle in for energetic action, engaging characters and a distinctly wry sense of humour.
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Book - 2011
This urban cyberpunk Sci-Fi story features a human population plugged into virtual reality simulations, a potent designer drug and a computer virus threat...Show more
This urban cyberpunk Sci-Fi story features a human population plugged into virtual reality simulations, a potent designer drug and a computer virus threatening it all. Snow Crash is packed full of satire and amusing characters alongside some seriously inventive world-building. Technology plays an important role in all of Stephenson's writings, and he is adept at weaving complex technological concepts into his stories in a way which is accessible to all readers.
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This urban cyberpunk Sci-Fi story features a human population plugged into virtual reality simulations, a potent designer drug and a computer virus threat...Show more
This urban cyberpunk Sci-Fi story features a human population plugged into virtual reality simulations, a potent designer drug and a computer virus threatening it all. Snow Crash is packed full of satire and amusing characters alongside some seriously inventive world-building. Technology plays an important role in all of Stephenson's writings, and he is adept at weaving complex technological concepts into his stories in a way which is accessible to all readers.
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Book - 2008
In the first book in his 'Rift' series, Peter Watts uses his experience as a marine biologist to explore the lengths humanity will go to in seeking alter...Show more
In the first book in his 'Rift' series, Peter Watts uses his experience as a marine biologist to explore the lengths humanity will go to in seeking alternative energy sources. A group of biologically modified humans are sent to live in the depths of the Pacific Ocean as they work on harnessing geothermal power. However, the psychological toll of conducting such work in such a hostile environment has been dangerously underestimated. Starfish is rich in scientific detail, boasts a psychologically thrilling plot and seamlessly transports the reader to a world that is both alien and close to home.
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In the first book in his 'Rift' series, Peter Watts uses his experience as a marine biologist to explore the lengths humanity will go to in seeking alter...Show more
In the first book in his 'Rift' series, Peter Watts uses his experience as a marine biologist to explore the lengths humanity will go to in seeking alternative energy sources. A group of biologically modified humans are sent to live in the depths of the Pacific Ocean as they work on harnessing geothermal power. However, the psychological toll of conducting such work in such a hostile environment has been dangerously underestimated. Starfish is rich in scientific detail, boasts a psychologically thrilling plot and seamlessly transports the reader to a world that is both alien and close to home.
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Book - 1996
Dramatic, suspenseful and richly detailed, 'City of Golden Shadow' is set in a not-so-distant future where virtual reality has become a fully integrated p...Show more
Dramatic, suspenseful and richly detailed, 'City of Golden Shadow' is set in a not-so-distant future where virtual reality has become a fully integrated part of everyday life. When children start to become trapped in the network - all clues point to the mysterious city of Otherland. Unfortunately, those sent to investigate seem to end up dead. The first in a series which doesn't hesitate to delve into the themes of power, autonomy and control.
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Dramatic, suspenseful and richly detailed, 'City of Golden Shadow' is set in a not-so-distant future where virtual reality has become a fully integrated p...Show more
Dramatic, suspenseful and richly detailed, 'City of Golden Shadow' is set in a not-so-distant future where virtual reality has become a fully integrated part of everyday life. When children start to become trapped in the network - all clues point to the mysterious city of Otherland. Unfortunately, those sent to investigate seem to end up dead. The first in a series which doesn't hesitate to delve into the themes of power, autonomy and control.
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Book - 2019
How different would your life be if you couldn't use the Internet anymore? Tim Maughan explores this very question in 'Infinite Detail', where in the not ...Show more
How different would your life be if you couldn't use the Internet anymore? Tim Maughan explores this very question in 'Infinite Detail', where in the not too distant dystopian future, chaos ensues when the entire Internet stops working. Written in two parts - before and after the disruption of instant information access - this cyberpunk masterpiece comes complete with interesting, complex characters and a vivid, anarchic new world order.
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How different would your life be if you couldn't use the Internet anymore? Tim Maughan explores this very question in 'Infinite Detail', where in the not ...Show more
How different would your life be if you couldn't use the Internet anymore? Tim Maughan explores this very question in 'Infinite Detail', where in the not too distant dystopian future, chaos ensues when the entire Internet stops working. Written in two parts - before and after the disruption of instant information access - this cyberpunk masterpiece comes complete with interesting, complex characters and a vivid, anarchic new world order.
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Book - 2019
Philandering CEO, Guy Matthias, has a big problem on his hands. Despite his megacorporation boasting an algorithm that can purportedly determine an indivi...Show more
Philandering CEO, Guy Matthias, has a big problem on his hands. Despite his megacorporation boasting an algorithm that can purportedly determine an individual's action, behaviour and fate - someone has ended up murdered by a robot in an entirely unpredicted turn of events. With his malfunctioning software under investigation and a determined hacker on his trail, his house of cards seems set to come crashing down. Give Zed a go, if you like dark humour and acerbic and witty commentary on society.
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Philandering CEO, Guy Matthias, has a big problem on his hands. Despite his megacorporation boasting an algorithm that can purportedly determine an indivi...Show more
Philandering CEO, Guy Matthias, has a big problem on his hands. Despite his megacorporation boasting an algorithm that can purportedly determine an individual's action, behaviour and fate - someone has ended up murdered by a robot in an entirely unpredicted turn of events. With his malfunctioning software under investigation and a determined hacker on his trail, his house of cards seems set to come crashing down. Give Zed a go, if you like dark humour and acerbic and witty commentary on society.
Show less
Book - 2019
A wealthy tech entrepreneur's wife disappears under mysterious circumstances. Years later, he reintroduces his 'wife' to the world using the latest advanc...Show more
A wealthy tech entrepreneur's wife disappears under mysterious circumstances. Years later, he reintroduces his 'wife' to the world using the latest advances in A.I. to reconstruct both her personality and body. This enigmatic new woman is a source of both fascination and distaste, and soon begins accumulating secrets of her own. A heart pounding, fast paced thriller with an intriguing premise that will get you thinking about the moral and legal implications of artificial intelligence.
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A wealthy tech entrepreneur's wife disappears under mysterious circumstances. Years later, he reintroduces his 'wife' to the world using the latest advanc...Show more
A wealthy tech entrepreneur's wife disappears under mysterious circumstances. Years later, he reintroduces his 'wife' to the world using the latest advances in A.I. to reconstruct both her personality and body. This enigmatic new woman is a source of both fascination and distaste, and soon begins accumulating secrets of her own. A heart pounding, fast paced thriller with an intriguing premise that will get you thinking about the moral and legal implications of artificial intelligence.
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An Analog Novel
by Peper, Eliot
Book - 2018
A political lobbyist, representing the world's most powerful technology and energy executives, finds that his choices have put a target on his back. As hi...Show more
A political lobbyist, representing the world's most powerful technology and energy executives, finds that his choices have put a target on his back. As his personal privacy is compromised by activists working to manipulate markets and hijack governments, it seems a shadow war is all but inevitable. The stakes are about as high as they can get - will humanity secure a future for itself or doom the planet to a slow death via climate catastrophe? Find out in the first book in the Analog Trilogy.
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A political lobbyist, representing the world's most powerful technology and energy executives, finds that his choices have put a target on his back. As hi...Show more
A political lobbyist, representing the world's most powerful technology and energy executives, finds that his choices have put a target on his back. As his personal privacy is compromised by activists working to manipulate markets and hijack governments, it seems a shadow war is all but inevitable. The stakes are about as high as they can get - will humanity secure a future for itself or doom the planet to a slow death via climate catastrophe? Find out in the first book in the Analog Trilogy.
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Book - 2017
In the year 2144 medicine is only available to those who can afford it. For everyone else, there's people like Jack - a drug pirate who fills prescription...Show more
In the year 2144 medicine is only available to those who can afford it. For everyone else, there's people like Jack - a drug pirate who fills prescriptions for the poor from her submarine. When a bad batch of product leaves her customers fatally addicted to work, Jack decides she needs to get to the bottom of things. Unfortunately for her, there's a determined military agent and his robot partner hot on her heels.
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In the year 2144 medicine is only available to those who can afford it. For everyone else, there's people like Jack - a drug pirate who fills prescription...Show more
In the year 2144 medicine is only available to those who can afford it. For everyone else, there's people like Jack - a drug pirate who fills prescriptions for the poor from her submarine. When a bad batch of product leaves her customers fatally addicted to work, Jack decides she needs to get to the bottom of things. Unfortunately for her, there's a determined military agent and his robot partner hot on her heels.
Show less
Book - 2017
Our protagonist in this read is Rex, a genetically enhanced dog, equipped with weaponised technology and given a level of intelligence similar to a human....Show more
Our protagonist in this read is Rex, a genetically enhanced dog, equipped with weaponised technology and given a level of intelligence similar to a human. This intelligence makes him a deadly instrument of war—but also makes him begin to question if he can be something more than a weapon. Creative, characterful and with excellent descriptions, this is a worthwhile read for dog lovers and sci-fi fans alike.
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Our protagonist in this read is Rex, a genetically enhanced dog, equipped with weaponised technology and given a level of intelligence similar to a human....Show more
Our protagonist in this read is Rex, a genetically enhanced dog, equipped with weaponised technology and given a level of intelligence similar to a human. This intelligence makes him a deadly instrument of war—but also makes him begin to question if he can be something more than a weapon. Creative, characterful and with excellent descriptions, this is a worthwhile read for dog lovers and sci-fi fans alike.
Show less