Draft:Slaughtermatic
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| Author | Steve Aylett |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Cyberpunk, Postmodern fiction |
| Publisher | Orion Books |
Publication date | 1997 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Pages | 192 |
Slaughtermatic is a 1997 cyberpunk novel by British author Steve Aylett. Set in the dystopian and absurdist city of Beerlight, the novel follows Dante Cubit, a charismatic antihero who fakes his own death to carry out a high-concept robbery. Blending noir aesthetics, postmodern satire, and science fiction tropes, the novel is noted for its fragmented narrative structure and exaggerated, surreal prose style.
Plot
[edit]Dante Cubit is a criminal visionary in the lawless, hyper-violent city of Beerlight. He orchestrates a scheme to stage his own murder, enabling him to reappear under a new identity to commit the ultimate heist. The plot unfolds through chaotic sequences, unreliable narration, and metaphysical absurdities, reflecting the novel's satirical take on cyberpunk conventions and the genre's obsession with identity, reality, and spectacle.
Style and Themes
[edit]Slaughtermatic is marked by dense, stylized prose and satirical hyperbole. It plays with cyberpunk conventions—digital dystopias, technology-saturated environments, and existential paranoia—while parodying the genre’s excesses. Aylett's writing combines elements of metafiction, black humor, and surreal violence. The narrative often references pop culture, crime fiction, and philosophical concepts, echoing influences from authors like William Gibson, Thomas Pynchon, and William S. Burroughs.
Reception
[edit]Slaughtermatic received critical attention for its distinctive voice and subversive approach to genre fiction. The novel was praised by reviewers in publications such as *The Guardian* and *Interzone* for its inventive language and radical narrative structure.[1] Critics highlighted its contribution to the evolution of post-cyberpunk literature, noting its combination of dystopian themes with absurdist comedy and linguistic innovation.[2]
Legacy
[edit]Slaughtermatic is frequently cited as one of Aylett’s most well-known and representative works. It helped solidify the tone and setting of his Beerlight series, which includes Atom, Novahead, and Lint. The novel is sometimes included in discussions of late-stage or post-cyberpunk literature for its reflexive critique of the genre and experimental prose.