David Deane Haskell
New Member
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2026
- Messages
- 1
Hello SFFWorld!
I've been thinking a lot lately about the natural evolution of cyberpunk aesthetics. While neon-lit megacities are the classic staple, I've been fascinated by
how those same themes—megacorporate overreach, transhumanism, and gritty survival—translate to deep-sea environments. 'Oceanpunk' or aquatic cyberpunk changes
the physical constraints: instead of running out of street space, characters are fighting crushing atmospheric pressure, dark waters, and corporate oxygen
monopolies.
To put some of these worldbuilding ideas into practice, I wrote a novel called The Solarian Deep (Book 1 of The Technoquatics Series).
Set in The Shallows—a submerged mega-city where humanity hangs on through bio-engineering and irreversible full-gill surgical enhancements. When Calistya's friend vanishes into the abyssal Deep, she risks all to go in after her.
We actually just broke into the Top 10 on Amazon Free today, sitting at #8 in Cyberpunk Science Fiction and #14 in Space Exploration!
If you want to check it out as part of this discussion, it is currently 100% FREE on Kindle Select for its launch window ($0.00):
I'd love to hear your thoughts on aquatic speculative fiction and where you see oceanpunk evolving as a subgenre!
I've been thinking a lot lately about the natural evolution of cyberpunk aesthetics. While neon-lit megacities are the classic staple, I've been fascinated by
how those same themes—megacorporate overreach, transhumanism, and gritty survival—translate to deep-sea environments. 'Oceanpunk' or aquatic cyberpunk changes
the physical constraints: instead of running out of street space, characters are fighting crushing atmospheric pressure, dark waters, and corporate oxygen
monopolies.
To put some of these worldbuilding ideas into practice, I wrote a novel called The Solarian Deep (Book 1 of The Technoquatics Series).
Set in The Shallows—a submerged mega-city where humanity hangs on through bio-engineering and irreversible full-gill surgical enhancements. When Calistya's friend vanishes into the abyssal Deep, she risks all to go in after her.
We actually just broke into the Top 10 on Amazon Free today, sitting at #8 in Cyberpunk Science Fiction and #14 in Space Exploration!
If you want to check it out as part of this discussion, it is currently 100% FREE on Kindle Select for its launch window ($0.00):
I'd love to hear your thoughts on aquatic speculative fiction and where you see oceanpunk evolving as a subgenre!
