Cyberpunk
Cyberpunk[COLOR=Teal]In the stereotypical science fiction world everybody wears tight body suits, fly around in space ships and everything is made of chrome and glass. There is another world of science fiction, however which takes a completely different look at the future. Instead of focusing on the popular mainstream areas of the world, it looks at the underground. The atmosphere is dark and gritty and technology has a threatening air. This sub-genre of science fiction is called Cyberpunk and the author you go to when seeking cyberpunk is William Gibson. Indeed, long before The Matrix was even thought of by the Wachowski brothers William Gibson had already invented an artificial internet system, called The Matrix. William Gibson stories often focused on low-lifes who stored dangerously illegal information in the microchips in their heads, or entered The Matrix in order to destroy a company. The hero was more of an anti-hero, though with some conscience. Johnny Mnemonic, for example gets tired of storing illegal information in his head and seeks to get out of it. Cyberpunk is interesting for its dark idea of the future and its focus on rellion against authority. Yes it's different, but intriguing.
Horrorphile
Also Solaris by Stanislaw Lem, The Time Machine by HG Wells, The Brass Dragon by Marion Zimmer Bradley, and The Stars, My Destination by Alfred Bester
... and my fave, Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan.
Horrorphile