Here is a list of some cyberpunk authors:
William Gibson is a writer known for creating worlds where technology shapes everything, often in surprising ways. In “Neuromancer,” a washed-up computer hacker named Case is hired for a mysterious job.
To earn his redemption, he must navigate a virtual reality world called the Matrix, working alongside strange and dangerous allies. The story includes cybernetic enhancements, artificial intelligence, and gritty, futuristic settings.
It’s packed with high-stakes tension and fascinating glimpses of a digital future that feels both distant and eerily possible.
Bruce Sterling is a major voice in cyberpunk, and his novel “Islands in the Net” is a standout in the genre. It tells the story of Laura Webster, a woman working for a global information company in a near-future world governed by corporate networks.
The story explores a world where nations have weakened, and power lies in the hands of corporations, data havens, and shadowy groups.
When Laura gets caught in a web of espionage and political intrigue, she must navigate conflicts that blur the lines between loyalty, ambition, and survival. The book paints a vivid picture of a world changed by technology and its impact on humanity.
Philip K. Dick is a master of exploring strange and thought-provoking futures. In his novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?”, he introduces a world where Earth is dying, humanity has colonized other planets, and androids created to serve humans rebel against their roles.
The story follows Rick Deckard, a bounty hunter tasked with tracking down rogue androids that blend almost seamlessly into society.
There’s a tension between what makes someone human and what makes them machine, and the blurred line between real and artificial is at the heart of this story. It’s a book that raises big questions while pulling you into its moody, futuristic setting.
Neal Stephenson is a well-known author who has written some fascinating cyberpunk stories. One of his most talked-about books is “Snow Crash.”
The story follows Hiro Protagonist, a programmer and part-time pizza delivery guy, who also happens to be a skilled swordsman in the virtual world known as the Metaverse.
The book focuses on this digital realm and a dangerous new drug called Snow Crash that threatens both the virtual and real world. There’s action, humor, and interesting ideas about technology and culture.
It’s packed with memorable moments, such as Hiro’s high-speed pizza delivery missions and his role as a hacker who uncovers a deeper conspiracy tied to ancient languages.
Pat Cadigan is a key figure in cyberpunk, and her book “Synners” stands out as a classic in the genre. The story imagines a future where technology allows people to directly connect their minds to machines.
It focuses on a group of creatives working for a media company as they push this tech to new limits. A daring experiment leads to unintended consequences that put everyone at risk.
The book explores how technology influences art, identity, and human connection without losing sight of its characters’ personal struggles.
Rudy Rucker is known for blending wild ideas with humor and sharp storytelling. One of his books, “Software,” kicks off the Ware Tetralogy. It’s about a programmer named Cobb Anderson, who creates intelligent robots called boppers.
These robots develop their own society on the Moon. Things take a turn when they offer Cobb a chance to cheat death by uploading his mind into a robot body.
The story dives into questions about identity and consciousness, set in a wild, futuristic world filled with chaotic twists and vibrant characters.
John Shirley is known for his work in the cyberpunk genre, and one of his standout novels is “City Come A-Walkin'.” The story is set in a gritty, neon-lit San Francisco where the city itself becomes a living being.
This living entity, called City, takes human form and hires a nightclub owner named Stu Cole to help fight against the forces threatening its existence. The book blends crime, urban life, and a strange, almost otherworldly presence that feels alive.
City is more than a backdrop—it’s a character with its own motives and power, operating in a world falling apart under the weight of corruption and chaos. The tension between Stu’s personal struggles and City’s demands creates an unpredictable and fast-moving story.
Walter Jon Williams is a science fiction author with a knack for creating vivid and thought-provoking worlds. One of his cyberpunk novels, “Hardwired,” stands out with its fast-paced story and gritty atmosphere.
The book is set in a future where corporate powers dominate, and the Earth has been torn apart by wars. It follows Cowboy, a smuggler who uses a heavily armed tank-like vehicle, and Sarah, a sharp and determined pilot with neural implants.
Both of them get caught in a dangerous conflict with the Orbital corporations. This is a world of tech-enhanced mercenaries, bleak landscapes, and battles for survival where trust comes at a high cost.
Richard K. Morgan is known for writing cyberpunk stories that explore dark, futuristic worlds.
In his book “Altered Carbon,” humanity has achieved a kind of immortality through technology that allows their consciousness to be stored and transferred between bodies, called “sleeves.”
The story follows Takeshi Kovacs, a former soldier, as he is hired to investigate the mysterious death of an ultra-wealthy man. Along the way, Kovacs navigates a gritty city full of betrayal, violence, and corrupt power structures.
The book dives into questions about identity, morality, and what it means to be human in a world where bodies are interchangeable tools.
Michael Swanwick is a writer who explores imaginative worlds with rich detail. His book, “Vacuum Flowers,” is a cyberpunk story set in a future where humanity has colonized the Solar System.
The story follows Rebel Elizabeth Mudlark, a woman who wakes up with fragments of her memories missing after a neural implant procedure.
She becomes entangled in a fight for survival and personal identity against a backdrop of corporate control, brain-hacking technology, and strange, fragmented societies in space. The book blends high-tech intrigue with questions about individuality and what it means to be human.
Cory Doctorow is a writer who often explores technology and its impact on society. One of his cyberpunk books, “Little Brother,” tells the story of a teenager named Marcus, who lives in a near-future San Francisco.
After a terrorist attack, the city falls under intense government surveillance. Marcus and his friends find themselves targeted by authorities and decide to fight back using their tech skills.
The book dives into how ordinary people can resist oppression, with Marcus using things like hacked consoles and cryptography to push back. It’s a story about freedom, privacy, and standing up when it feels risky to do so.
Katsuhiro Otomo is best known for his groundbreaking work in the cyberpunk genre. His manga “Akira” is set in a dystopian future where Tokyo, now rebuilt as Neo-Tokyo, struggles with corruption, revolution, and strange scientific experiments.
The story follows Kaneda, a biker gang leader, as he gets caught up in a government conspiracy involving his friend Tetsuo, who gains terrifying psychic powers after an accident.
The world of “Akira” is packed with political unrest, mysterious children with supernatural abilities, and massive destructive forces that spiral out of control. It’s a story that questions power, identity, and the cost of playing with forces beyond human comprehension.
Masamune Shirow is known for creating futuristic worlds filled with technology and complex societies. In “Ghost in the Shell”, the story takes place in a world where cybernetic enhancements are common, and human consciousness can exist within machines.
Major Motoko Kusanagi, a highly skilled cyborg operative, works for Section 9, a covert division that investigates cybercrime and terrorism.
The book explores her hunt for the Puppet Master, a mysterious hacker who manipulates people’s minds and blurs the lines between human and machine. The narrative is full of action, technology, and ethical dilemmas that make you think about identity and humanity in a digital age.
James O’Barr is best known for “The Crow,” a dark and emotional story with a touch of cyberpunk. The book follows Eric, a man brought back from the dead by a mysterious crow to avenge the brutal murder of his fiancée and himself.
Set in a bleak, neon-lit city filled with corruption and violence, Eric moves through this harsh world with a single purpose—justice. The world feels cold and unforgiving, with detailed flashes of Eric’s love for his fiancée making his mission all the more haunting.
The mix of action and heartbreak keeps the story intense from start to finish.
Paolo Bacigalupi is known for writing vivid, thought-provoking stories set in bleak futures shaped by environmental disasters and corporate greed.
In his cyberpunk novel, “The Windup Girl,” he takes readers to a near-future Thailand where bioengineered crops and genetic manipulation dominate the world.
The story follows Emiko, a genetically engineered “windup” girl, treated as property and struggling to survive in a society that views her as less than human.
Alongside her, we meet traders, scientists, and enforcers, all tangled in a dangerous world of power struggles and corruption. The book paints a world of decayed ecosystems and human desperation that feels both futuristic and eerily possible.