Can you distinguish a "cypherpunk" genre from a "cyberpunk" genre, and is it a worthwhile distinction, and what are the features ?
Yes, it is worthwhile. Good luck finding anything that is remotely acceptable.
Perhaps I can offer a starting point: First tier (works that are specifically focused on cryptographic technologies): (1) - books on future worlds and spaces: in particular, those that explore social, moral, political, technical, ethical issues (to be science fiction), or those that merely explore worlds (to be fantasy) (2) - books on cryptography theory and systems: from the basic theory (cryptography primitives), to the high level systems (public key infrastructure). (3) - books on privacy, ethics and social questions: defining good and bad cryptography in the various contexts (low level technical, high level social), including politics (trade barriers). Second tier (works that are more general and not specifically focused on cryptographic technologies): - second tier to (1) - general science fiction and fantasy exploration of future worlds involving technology or otherwise, but not primarily focused on cryptography (technical, social or ethnographical) - second tier to (2) - general mathematics, communications and computing, such as number theory, quantum computing, dna computing, internetworking systems, identity management. - second tier to (3) - general computing and technology issues of privacy, ethics, sociology, ethology. What I would enjoy reading: - books on cryptoterrorism and cryptoliberation, where a major part of the plot revolves around the use of cryptography technologies in terrorism or liberation. - books on cryptocommunities, where a major part of the plot revolves around people that are "cryptoheads" and for which cryptography and technology is a major part of their lifestyle (people who somewhat live, breathe and eat cryptography). _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.