Cyberpunk, a subgenre of science fiction, is typically set in an urban, dystopian future where technology and AI run rampant, leaving humanity to pick up the pieces. Often pulling elements from film noir and hard-boiled detective narratives, cyberpunk stories tend to be thrilling, fast-paced listens but offer just as much in terms of thematic depth as they do in entertainment. If you’re a fan of cinematic gems like Blade Runner, you’ll get caught up in cyberpunk audiobooks. We’ve rounded up some of the best listens for your next adventure.
When you say cyberpunk, most people immediately think of Ridley Scott’s film Blade Runner. However, Philip K. Dick’s original version of the story, titled Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, was just as pivotal in establishing the literary genre. Hall of Fame narrator Scott Brick brings this haunting dystopian classic to life, capturing all of the disparity and emptiness of its world. In a postapocalyptic San Francisco, bounty hunter Rick Deckard is tasked with taking down six escaped androids who are traveling to Earth. They can look and behave just like humans, and they pose a serious threat to humanity as a result. But as Deckard pursues his mission, he begins to doubt its purpose. As his investigation grows more complex and confusing, he also begins to doubt himself. Though many will be tempted to compare Dick's novel to its screen counterpart, there are distinct differences between the two works, making this audiobook one you’ll want to revisit repeatedly.
William Gibson is another cyberpunk pioneer, and his Neuromancer is often credited with establishing the genre. Winner of Hugo, Nebula, and Philip K. Dick awards, the novel follows Henry Dorsett Case, a former hacker. After our antihero is caught stealing from his company, he’s injected with a toxin that makes it impossible for him to connect to the main network. When offered some shadowy mercenary work by a man who claims he can reverse his poisoning, Case knows he must take it ... despite not knowing how dangerous it might turn out to be. Seasoned narrator Robertson Dean electrifies Neuromancer's world with full, nuanced performances of each character, deftly shifting between different accents and personas while keeping up the story's pace and intensity.
Snow Crash uses music, sound effects, and more to bring the story to life and enhance the listening experience. In his reality, Hiro Protagonist delivers pizza; in the Metaverse, however, he is a warrior prince diving into the mysteries of a new computer virus that’s taking down hackers across the city. At the core of the virus is deep lore rooted in the Sumerian language, a carefully detailed plot device that demonstrates Neal Stephenson’s talent for interweaving fiction with subjects like linguistics, computer science, politics, and more. Narrator Jonathan Davis weaves together the whole robust collection of characters, universes, and evil viruses, delivering a thoughtful, nuanced, and riveting performance .
In Altered Carbon, the first in the Takeshi Kovacs Trilogy, death has become temporary. On Earth in the 25th century, an expensive procedure lets those able to afford it "save" and then easily "download" their consciousness into a new body, again and again. Takeshi Kovacs is one of the affluent, but his existence is far from stress-free. His most recent death was violent and not within his control. In a different body in a strange city, Kovacs sets out to illuminate the details of his death and finds himself falling deeper and deeper into a dark conspiracy. Todd McLaren has a deep, gravelly voice perfect for recounting the details of Kovacs’s harrowing mission but also plays many different characters–male and female–in distinct voices. And though each audiobook in the trilogy features a different narrator, many reviewers attest that McLaren is their favorite.
What happens when calories become currency? That's one of the questions Paolo Bacigalupi explores in his award-winning The Windup Girl. Protagonist Anderson Lake is a corporate Calorie Man, working undercover in Thailand, combing the streets of Bangkok for precious foodstuffs thought to be extinct. In the midst of his search, he meets Emiko, a strange and alluring engineered being who may not be as soulless as the programmers who discarded her believe. The consistently remarkable Jonathan Davis won an Earphones Award for his nuanced performance of this chilling novel.
Like a few other works on our list, Malka Older’s debut title blends genres, incorporating elements of political thriller with cyberpunk. Infomocracy follows the lead up to a major election with the potential to unseat Information, the corporation that has governed since it first created a peaceful micro-democracy out of what had been violent, warring nation-states 20 years ago. Christine Marshall’s intelligent tone is the perfect fit for this novel and the entire Centenal Cycle trilogy. With multiple characters and perspectives to juggle, Marshall masterfully establishes distinct personas for the three protagonists; Ken, a young idealist hoping to prove himself to the Policy1st party; Domaine, who sees the election as an opportunity to bring down the ruling party; and Mishima, an insider with dangerous knowledge of the real purpose behind Information and the people who run it.
Company Town refers to a city-size oil rig off the coast of the Canadian Maritimes, owned by the wealthy Lynch family. Within its community, most take on bioengineered enhancements, making them less human. One of the few exceptions is Hwa, a young woman who prefers to lean on her natural instincts and expertise in the arts of self-defense. Her services as a bodyguard remain in high demand, which makes her the ideal candidate when the youngest Lynch needs protection. But does she have the power to keep him safe from increasingly intense death threats that seem to be coming from another timeline? And will she be able to protect herself when the city is rocked by a string of murders that all point to her? Madeline Ashby unravels a twisted mystery with a cyberpunk edge, while Cecelia Kim’s performance gives Hwa’s character a softness and humanity that makes her a heroine listeners will feel for.
Cindy Pon introduces a world where the wealthy can buy longer lives, courtesy of suits custom made to protect them from pollution, viruses, and other environmental hazards. In that same world, Jason Zhou is grieving the loss of his mother from illness and determined to destroy the suits that might have saved her, if they weren't reserved for the elite. Yet what seemed like a simple mission ends up revealing a darker, more sinister nature behind Jin Corporation, the company that not only creates the suits but also may be perpetuating the need for them. Narrated by stage and television actor Roger Yeh in his debut audiobook performance, Want is a cyberpunk thriller that speaks directly to real-world issues of income disparity, inequity, and corruption. You'll leave wanting to listen to its sequel, Ruse.
In Perdido Street Station, marking the debut of China Mieville’s award-winning series, steampunk technology coexists with magic. In New Crobuzon, a city that lies beneath the bones of a dead beast, Isaac, a scientist and researcher, is approached by Yagharek, a creature that lost its wings and is desperate to fly again. Shortly after securing Isaac's help, Yagharek eats the mind of one of his scientific colleagues and flies away. This sends Isaac on a dangerous adventure to re-capture the creature and destroy it. The sprawling, detailed world is enhanced by narrator John Lee, who clearly savors each description while keeping his pacing brisk to match the intense plot.
Often compared to the world of online multiplayer video games, Survival Quest transports listeners to Barliona, a virtual world with both players and foes in the forms of monsters, battles, and more. Much like real life, some players get lost in this virtual world, constantly pulled back into the magical and mystical, even going months without returning home. Each player experiences this world like a video game, able to level up, take down opponents, and more. But a select few face a larger challenge as Barliona is transformed into a hellish landscape. Jonathan Yen’s engaging, animated tone will make the minutes—and hours—fly by as you listen.
Written in 1987 as a sequel to the blockbuster film Aliens, William Gibson's script never made it to the big screen. At last, the untold Alien III drama is brought to life, exclusively in hair-raising audio format. The story opens with the Sulaco on its return voyage from LV-426, with the cryogenically frozen survivors of the crew tucked inside its steel walls. Yet, as we soon discover, our heroes are not alone and far from safe. Directed by the multi-award-winning Dirk Maggs, Alien III is performed by a full cast, starring Barbara Barnes as Ripley and featuring Michael Biehn and Lance Henriksen reprising their on-screen roles as Corporal Hicks and Bishop. Marking the 40th anniversary of the birth of the Alien franchise, this fully immersive audio experience is a can't-miss for die-hard fans and anyone seeking to get lost in a thrilling extraterrestrial adventure.
Yes, the amazing William Gibson leaves his mark yet again. Introducing The Jackpot Trilogy, The Peripheral draws listeners into a dangerous game being played out in worlds separated by seventy-plus years. Flynne lives in rural America, where jobs are scarce, and barely earns enough to get by assembling product at the local 3D printshop. Wilf, a high-powered celebrity-minder, lives in London, quite well, especially given the challenges of maintaining a comfortable life during a slow-motion apocalypse. How they meet, and what happens after, is totally mind-blowing. Accomplished stage actress and Hall of Fame narrator Lorelei King captures all the intrigue while portraying each character with emotional depth. The Peripheral was adapted into a 2022 Amazon Prime drama, starring Chloe Grace Moretz and Gary Carr.
Cyberpunk thrillers typically unfold in the alleys of a city that vaguely resembles Manhattan or Tokyo. Not Blackfish City. Author Sam J. Miller transports listeners to the eponymous Blackfish City, a floating metropolis constructed in the Arctic Circle. Like many cyberpunk settings, corruption and crime lurk in the shadows of this marvel of engineering. Life for its denizens is further complicated by income disparity and creeping decay. Enter a woman riding an orca, with a polar bear at her side. Could this strange new visitor be the city's savior? Hall of Fame narrator Vikas Adam deftly navigates all the unexpected twists, mounting danger, and delicious intrigue.
If you're a fan of the massively popular Cyberpunk video game series, great news! There is plenty of in-universe content out there, including an anime adaptation and a continuing book series. Cyberpunk 2077: No Coincidences drops the reader directly back in Night City to follow a new group of rogues. Our story kicks off with an exciting convoy heist, and follows the people behind it. Even if you are not a gamer, this sci fi series is cyberpunk catnip.
