Why Do I Write in a Cyberpunk Setting?

If you’re new to my writing, most of my stories is set in the world of Burn and Bad Karma. This setting is a somewhat near future version of our world, where cyberware is common, nations have been fragmented or rebuilt in new ways, and everyone is looking for a way up to the top or at least get out of the squalor of the level they’re at.

They could be a gang member looking to move up so they can quit pulling watch on their turf at the the most dangerous times or a corporate wage earner who’s looking to move up to the team lead position for the perks and the bigger paycheck, no matter who they have to step over or step on. Grunts on the front lines of militaries, police forces or corporate security offices who want to get the better gear, implants and equipment, as well as sergeant’s stripes to show the world they can lead people and get work done. Politicians and their flunkies cut deals to bring them power and position, without a thought to the consequences their moves inflict on the common people of their city, state or nation.

Now that we see that, the question is why would I write in such a setting? I mean, it can be depressing to think about all the ways people can and (in setting) do burn through those around them, toss away those below and back stab their peers and those above them in the food chain.

The truth is that I’ve been reading cyberpunk since the 1980’s and it’s milieu that intrigues. Everything in it creates conflict at every level. Trust between characters is hard earned and can be burned away with a single action. People in these stories can be driven by anything from greed to a simple need to help others, but even at their best most don’t limit their options in how to deal with a problem.

It’s fun to write characters who are both desperate and empowered. They’ve done what they had too so they could get the tech, weapons and experience to scratch their way to a better life. Back them into a corner, and they’re going to fight, and they don’t care about rules, fair play or whether their actions are far beyond the threat posed to them. And afterward, no matter how beaten or bloodied they got, they’ll stand up again to deal with the next threat.

Burn is motivated by greed, a need to prove herself, and a growing love of Bad Karma. Meanwhile, Bad Karma doesn’t count people are particularly important, but the small number that are important to her, she’ll fight all hell for. And she’ll move first, because she’s going to let them know she’s one of the best they’ll ever fight.

To be far, while I write in a cyberpunk, dystopian setting, the actual stories are pulled from other genres’. Moving Target is a thriller and tells about Bad Karma’s origin. California Chaos is a spy novel set in the fragmented cyberpunk environs of San Luis Obispo, California. Sandblaster is a military science fiction story that combines two heist stories, a mercenary team and a sentient tank. Easy Jobs is an action thriller with cyberpunk characters and an 80’s movie sensibility toward violence as a problem solving tool. And in short fiction, I’ve written a zombie story, an earth based war story, a Christmas story and even a true military science fiction story.

So the answer, really, is that the setting is fun and creates opportunities to explore many other story types in the back drop of the broken world my characters are in. Also, anywhere less dangerous would just be boring for Burn and Bad Karma 🙂

I hope you enjoy my stories! Feel free to leave a review or email me at Keith@keithhedger.com if you’d like to discuss any of this or ask questions about any of my stories!