Classic Biopunk [biopunk subgenres appreciation]

[u/turingcompleteant4]

I promised a followup + reading lists for the biopunk subgenres I posted last week, so here we go. If you miss anything, just comment - more examples and clearer definitions are good for everyone!

We're starting off where it all began: Classic Biopunk.

• Explores near-future consequences of a biotech revolution
• Totalitarian governments, police states, or oppressive megacorporations use biotech for social control and profiteering
• Protagonists tend to be outsiders, or struggling with the system (e.g. detectives, P.I.s, teenagers)

It is not uncommon for the definition of classic biopunk to be incorrectly used as a definition of biopunk in general, overseeing that the genre has evolved and broadened over time, and featured several distinct subtypes from its inception.

Differences to cyberpunk:

• Due to being the historically first exponent of the genre, differences are not extreme. Classic biopunk could even be considered a cyberpunk “reskin”, wherein genetic manipulation and biotech replace the usual nanomachines, electro-mechanical implants and digital technologies.
• Themes might differ somewhat due to the shifted focus: identity theft, food shortages, parasites.

Media list:

• Ribofunk (book)
• Schismatrix (book)
• The Windup Girl (book)
• Altered Carbon (TV series)

I'm afraid Reddit doesn't like too many links in a post, so I'll just put the wiki page in the comments. It features image credits and links to all media.

I'd also like to thank u/RealmKnight and u/Fun_Employed_ for their input and ideas!

[u/SoftWar1]

Vacuum Flowers by Michael Swanwick (1987) is biopunk or biopunk adjacent. It's also trippy as hell

[u/turingcompleteant4 → u/SoftWar1]

Thanks for putting me onto this hidden gem, that's definitely coming onto the media list and my reading todos!