What in darnations does "cyberpunk" mean?

Blazing Reader,

After the June issue of Locus Magazine listed my novel, All the Humans Are Sleeping, as "cyberpunk," many readers have been asking what in darnations is cyberpunk and do I agree that my novel deserves such a punkish label.

Here's a succinct definition of cyberpunk from Studio Binder:

"Cyberpunk is a science-fiction sub-genre dealing with the integration of society and technology in dystopian settings."

So far so good. Between all the AI robots and the virtual reality escapism, All the Humans Are Sleeping is certainly dealing with "the integration of society and technology." And since my novel takes place after World War III, it gets a big noirish checkmark for "dystopian settings."

"Cyberpunk stories deal with outsiders (punks) who fight against the oppressors in society (usually mega corporations that control everything) via technological means (cyber)."

My story does have a mega corporation that is trying to control the world, Metaverse Inc. However, the main character in All the Humans Are Sleeping,, Peter Stevens, doesn't use technological means to resist. Being a farmer, he's more a "cyberluddite" rather than a "cyberpunk."

The minor character of Brent Sarris (who has a lead role in the sequel) certainly fits the "cyberpunk" role. He's an AI deployment expert who opposes the technocratic takeover of civilization.

However, according to a caveat Studio Binders adds to its definition, both Peter and Brent could still be full-fledged cyberpunks:

If the punks aren’t actively fighting against a megacorp, they’re still dealing with living in a world completely dependent on high technology.

Lastly, Studio Binder further defines cyberpunk as having "themes dabbling in trans-humanism, existentialism, and what it means to be human." In that regard, my novel All the Humans are Sleeping deserves three more checkmarks.

As Dr. Grahame Booker, author of Coercion, Authority and Democracy, said:

"All the Humans Are Sleeping paints a skillful picture of a possible transhuman future, it offers hope that humanity will triumph over the technocracy.”

If you haven't read my cyberpunk-ish novel about "trans-humanism, existentialism, and what it means to be human," you can get a free sample at AlltheHumansAreSleeping.com. And if you've already read it and loved it, then please consider buying copies for all your friends and family.

John C.A. Manley

John C. A. Manley is the author of Much Ado About Corona, All The Humans Are Sleeping and other works of philosophical fiction that are "so completely engaging that you find yourself alternately laughing, gasping, hanging on for dear life." Get free samples of his stories by becoming a Blazing Pine Cone email subscriber.