Cyberpunk and Biopunk (Sub-genres of Sci-Fi)

Cyberpunk and Biopunk

These are the two sub-genres of Science Fiction. Among this the cyberpunk enjoys the priority.

Cyberpunk

Cyberpunk is a post modern form of science fiction in which the events take place partially or entirely within the ‘virtual reality’ formed by computers or computer networks, in which the characters may be either human or artificial intelligence. The term cyberpunk was coined in the late 20^th century that is used interchangeably with cyber fiction and hyper text fiction. The term cyberpunk acknowledges the increasing influence of computer technology in literature, whether manifested in terms of plot (e.g. computer oriented science fiction), medium of publication (any of fiction now available on the World Wide Web), reader participation (e.g. interactive novels that invite the reader’s creative involvement) or in some other way. Nihilism, post-modernism, and film noir techniques are common elements and the protagonist may be disaffected or reluctant anti-heroes.

          Cyberpunk gained popularity in the 1984with publication of William Gibson’s novel Neuromancer. Technology is important in cyberpunk fictions , hence artificial intelligence, laser, neon, synthetic music and so on. Among its better known practitioners are William Gibson, K.W. Jetter and Walter Jon Williams.

Biopunk

         

Biopunk is a techno progressive movement advocating open access to genetic information. The related biopunk science fiction genre focuses on biotechnology and subversives. Biopunk science fiction is a subgenre of cyberpunk fiction that focuses on the near-future unintended consequences of the biotechnology revolution following the discovery of recombinant DNA. Unlike cyberpunk, it builds not on information technology, but on synthetic biology.  A common feature of biopunk fiction is the "black clinic", which is a laboratory, clinic, or hospital that performs illegal, unregulated, or ethically-dubious biological modification and genetic engineering procedures.  Many features of biopunk fiction have their roots in William Gibson's Neuromancer, one of the first cyberpunk novels.

Paul Di Filippo’s Ribofunk, Paul J. McAuley’s White Devils, The Xenogenesis trilogy by Octavia E. Butler…are examples of biopunk science fiction.

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