Cyberpunk Precursors
Before the neon-drenched streets of cyberpunk became a cultural touchstone, a series of visionary works laid the groundwork for the genre. From gritty novels to groundbreaking films, these precursors introduced the themes of high tech, low life, and the uneasy relationship between humanity and machines.
Key Influences
- Neuromancer (William Gibson, 1984) – Coined the term “cyberspace” and defined the archetypal cyber‑punk aesthetic.
- Blade Runner (Ridley Scott, 1982) – Visualized a dystopian future where corporate power and artificial life collide.
- Akira (Katsuhiro Otomo, 1988) – Explored post‑apocalyptic urban chaos and the rise of psychic technology.
- Snow Crash (Neal Stephenson, 1992) – Merged hacker culture with linguistics and corporate anarchy.
- The Matrix (Wachowski Sisters, 1999) – Brought the idea of a simulated reality into mainstream consciousness.
These works, among others, shaped the cyberpunk narrative we recognize today: a world where advanced technology coexists with social decay, where corporations outweigh governments, and where the line between human and machine blurs.
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