A collection of Polish cyberpunk short stories exploring dystopian futures, corporate rule, societal divides, and the impact of technological progress on humanity, featuring works by Paweł Majka, Łukasz Orbitowski, Tobiasz Piątkowski, Robert J. Szmidt, and Robert Wegner. The anthology received mixed reviews, with praise for some stories' engaging narratives and world-building, while criticism was directed towards uneven quality and execution in certain pieces.

Reader Review Summary

"Antologia Polskiego Cyberpunka" is an ambitious and largely successful attempt to showcase the best of Polish science fiction writing in the cyberpunk subgenre. This collection of five stories from acclaimed authors Paweł Majka, Łukasz Orbitowski, Tobiasz Piątkowski, Robert J. Szmidt, and Robert Wegner offers a distinctly Polish take on the dystopian, corporation-controlled future typical of cyberpunk, while exploring profound questions about the impact of technological progress on our humanity.

One of the anthology's greatest strengths is the impressive diversity of styles and approaches the authors bring to the genre. From the haunting, philosophical tone of Orbitowski's "1990" to the gritty, action-packed intensity of Szmidt's "Death Is Not Everything," each story carves out its own unique niche within the cyberpunk framework. This variety keeps the collection engaging from start to finish.

The audiobook production is particularly praiseworthy, elevating the already strong material with excellent voice acting, immersive sound effects, and atmospheric music that draws the listener deeper into the stories' dark, neon-lit worlds. Many reviewers single out the audio presentation as a highlight, noting that it adds an extra layer of texture and depth to the reading experience.

Standout stories include Wegner's "Serce Strzygi" ("Heart of the Striga"), a tale of ghostly personalities haunting the net that strikes a perfect balance between the ethereal and the visceral; Orbitowski's "1990," a poignant coming-of-age story set against a backdrop of shifting realities; and Majka's "Pastuch" ("Shepherd"), which brilliantly melds elements of Polish cultural heritage with a pandemic-ravaged cyberpunk future.

While a few reviewers found the quality of the stories uneven, with some weaker entries dragging down the overall rating, the consensus view seems to be that the high points of "Antologia Polskiego Cyberpunka" more than justify the occasional misstep. For fans of both cyberpunk and Polish science fiction, this collection offers a wealth of thought-provoking, emotionally resonant, and stylistically adventurous storytelling.

Though some critics lament the lack of female authors in the lineup and argue that the portrayal of women in a few of the stories falls short, the anthology as a whole represents an important milestone for the Polish cyberpunk subgenre. By transplanting classic cyberpunk tropes into a specifically Polish context and filtering them through the lens of local history and culture, "Antologia Polskiego Cyberpunka" opens up exciting new possibilities for the genre's future development in Poland and beyond.

In sum, while not without its flaws, "Antologia Polskiego Cyberpunka" is a compelling and largely successful showcase for some of Poland's most talented science fiction authors. With its diverse range of voices, styles, and ideas, bolstered by top-notch audiobook production, this collection offers a rewarding and thought-provoking exploration of the ways technology, society, and identity intertwine in a dark future that feels simultaneously distant and unnervingly close at hand.