Looking for Cyberpunk...

[rygD]

Since I know I am not alone as a fan of cyberpunk, I need recommendations for books.  I am looking mostly for less popular or even obscure shit.  I know the big authors, and have read the occasional book that was by someone I hadn't heard of before.  I keep looking and google hates cyberpunk, as all I find is the stuff I already know of.

In addition to Stephenson, Sterling, Gibson, Stross, Rucker and other authors listed here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cyberpunk_works#Print_media who and what do you suggest?

[Z³]

I dont think you can find much obscure shit, once you scratch the surface of teh genre you're pretty much nailed it.
After this, I dunno, try China Mieville.

[Cramulus]

When I was on my cyberpunk binge, I really liked The Mirrorshades Anthology (check it out, here's a copy for $1.53!)... a lot of cyberpunk short stories from lesser known authors. You might sniff down their trails.

[Cain]

I've been meaning to read his (China Miéville's) stuff for ages.  I had a friend who studied at Warwick under him, and she has only praise for his skills.

[rygD]

Cram, thanks, but I already own it.

Z and Cain, will check him out.

My point was, there are many books out there that fall into that category, but are not by the big authors, and those are what I am looking for.  I come across them from time to time but just wanted to know what others had seen.  Perhaps I should learn how to write entertaining stories, and make my own...

[Dalek]

Here ya go

[Sir Squid Diddimus]

and don't forget your-

[Rococo Modem Basilisk]

John M Ford wrote a really great proto-cyberpunk novel called Web of Angels. I'd strongly suggest that. There is also a book named Cythera, by Richard Calder, which was really well-written. I didn't manage to finish either (the former I lent out, and the latter was from a public library). There is also Dreaming Metal by Melissa Scott, which was a bit far-out for me.

Although it isn't cyberpunk per-se, I strongly recommend Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge. Likewise, I strongly recommend Gun, With Occasional Music by Jonathan Lethem. I find both to be habitual-reread material.

Presumably you have read the Sprawl trilogy and the Bridge trilogy? I found Pattern Recognition to be up to snuff, too (and more cyberpunk than Gibson claimed).

The Dresden Files novels are worth checking out. Cyberpunk is often considered to be a cross between sci-fi and noir; The Dresden Files series is a cross between fantasy and noir (though there's enough verasimilitude that I'd argue it angles more into sci-fi, and it would probably be claimed as such if accepting magic at face value wasn't a one way ticket to the fantasy age ghetto).




Also:

[Z³]

I've been meaning to read his (China Miéville's) stuff for ages.  I had a friend who studied at Warwick under him, and she has only praise for his skills.

So far I've only read Perdido Street Station, not really cyberpunk, more like steampunk actually. Nonetheless it was a fun read, It was kind of like reading bizarre cross between Neverwhere and the Mothman Prophecies. If I'm to judge his style off of this book alone, I'd say that it reads kind of like a D&D campaign, but Mieville does a very good job of removing himself from the typical fantasy conventions... he is very much NOT A FAN of tolkienien fantasy. From what I know of your tastes, I think he'd probably be right up your alley.

[Cain]

Yeah, I've heard that about him, his dislike of Tolkeinesque (for the record, I like Tolkein himself, but hate his imitators) fantasy and tend to agree with his criticisms.

From the little I understand of the current literary field, he's considered part of the "New Weird" circle of writers, which are said to be inspired by the likes of Lovecraft and Machen.  Somewhat avant-garde, want to mix horror, fantasy and magical realism into a coherent whole.  Some of the descriptions of it make it sound like a literary O:MF assault on the reader.

[rygD]

DALEKK and Squid, not too sure how those fit into cyberpunk.  Not much "cyber" about them.  Your average 13 year old American is actually closer to cyberpunk than they are.

Enki, thanks for the suggestions.  Yes, I have read Gibson's stuff, and read Pattern Recognition right after it came out.  It was my introduction to Curtas, and I would still love to have one.  Have also been thinking about looking into Vinge's stuff.  I have been told the Dresden books are pretty good.  I am not really into fantasy though, so we will see.  When I say cyberpunk I am more interested in stuff that deals with technology and information.  I can't say I recognise the picture, but it reminds me some of Metropolis.

[Z³]

I might also suggest trying some Neil Stephenson, he's written books that take place in a myriad of period settings (I just finished reading his Baroque trilogy, for example). I noticed one of his more modern books on the list, but I suggest you start with Cryptonomicon and move on from there. Its definitely a worthwhile read. Check out the wikipedia article for the synopsis, get psyched on it, and pick it up from your local library.

[Triple Zero]

Kai mentioned a novel called "Feed" a couple of times. I haven't read it myself yet, but from the descriptions it sounds like it's about a new generation of kids in the future that have a permanent uplink to the internet, which, with all the social networking and stuff basically functions for them as a kind of telepathy. They're pretty far gone, in the sense that it affects their language, sense of reality, ethics and self-determination. Naturally they are being turned into consumer slaves by the big megacorps. But then one kid somehow malfunctions, turns off, tunes out and wakes up or something and then plot happens.

Z3, he mentioned Stephenson in the OP But yeah, Cryptonomicon is awesome. Also, Snow Crash.

[Rococo Modem Basilisk]

Like I said, Dresden Files is closer to a punkpunk setting than fantasy. It's set in the present day, and has significant focus on realpolitik; the descriptions of the mechanics of the magic are explict and adhered-to enough to make it borderline Minovsky Particle territory. It also is probably better with the verasimilitude than Neuromancer (between people talking like people, having emotions, etc. and the fact that all the technology *and* the magic is established stuff -- none of the magic or mythology is made up by the author, though some is a little obscure; I suspect Butcher of being a chaote or ex-chaote).

I strongly recommend Snow Crash if you haven't read it yet. I'd group Snow Crash and Rainbows End together somewhat -- they are very distinct in style from what is traditionally considered cyberpunk. Gibson's stuff is in some ways less postmodern; Pattern Recognition is almost to the edge of the Snow Crash / Rainbows End territory in terms of the focus on commercialism. Idoru isn't quite there either, imo.

[rygD]

I might also suggest trying some Neil Stephenson, he's written books that take place in a myriad of period settings (I just finished reading his Baroque trilogy, for example). I noticed one of his more modern books on the list, but I suggest you start with Cryptonomicon and move on from there. Its definitely a worthwhile read. Check out the wikipedia article for the synopsis, get psyched on it, and pick it up from your local library.

I have read most of the stuff by Neal Stephenson since Snow Crash.  Have yet to complete the Baroque Cycle (into the second part, I think...Hard to remember because I waited until they were paperbacks, and bought the first book as three books and got the others as the big ones).  I have read Cryptonomicon a couple times.  I believe he has it for free as an ebook on his site.  I have also read "In the Beginning was the Command Line..."  but I have been a *nix loser, I mean user since the late 90's.

By the way, if I am to bother with pbooks anymore I buy them...I usually go with ebooks, though.  Was just noticing how the ebook experience (if using a device) is becoming close to "A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer".