When we call something _Urban_, in fantasy or sci-fi what we mean is that the story's timeline is in the _near future_ (within a couple of decades), and the setting is in a city. There are examples of difference, but that is my understanding.
I've been an avid reader of cyberpunk since Neruomancer and Ubik tore my scalp off in my twenties. As a writer though I'm not much of a futurist, so I have not come up with many Cyberpunk ideas — nothing worth discussing anyway.
We now live in the *Age of AI*. Like it or not — Doom or Deliverance — the age is now, and the reality is here. And as for all the rest — hell is now empty, all the devils have arrived.
Wandering through various topics I came across information on the state sponsored hacker groups that have sprung up over the last ten years. Prior to these, there were of course cyber espionage and Nigerian scams and phishing for victims. Viruses and traps and malware. These groups, being paid by governments for specific skills and weaponry, have taken hacking to a much higher level. And far more dangerous on so many levels.
For example the U.S. has been involved in several notable hacking events targeting other countries. These include:
- In 2010, the Stuxnet virus targeted Iran's Natanz nuclear facility, significantly impacting its nuclear program.
- Edward Snowden's 2013 revelations included U.S. hacking of Chinese mobile phone companies and universities, and the infiltration of servers at Huawei for espionage and potentially offensive cyber operations.
- In 2019, Russia reported potential U.S. cyber-attacks on its electrical grid, with American hackers allegedly planting disruptive malware.
Thus began my work on Twenty-Nine Cozy Bears, an Urban Hacker Novel, focused on Russian, US and Iranian cyber-events and teams. Fiction of course.
If you are curious you can read what is posted herehttps://www.wattpad.com/user/GlennHefley
To be Cyberpunk, must the story be in the far distant future?