A diverse collection of seven cyberpunk-themed stories by Polish women authors, this anthology explores dystopian futures shaped by pandemics, alien invasions, technological augmentation, and societal collapse, each featuring complex female protagonists navigating harsh, transformed worlds. The stories blend elements of science fiction and social commentary, focusing on survival, identity, and the impact of technology on humanity, though the level of cyberpunk atmosphere and narrative depth varies across the collection.

Reader Review Summary

This anthology is a collection of seven cyberpunk-themed short stories written by Polish female authors, including Martyna Raduchowska, Magdalena Kucenty, Jagna Rolska, Krystyna Chodorowska, Gabriela Panika, and Agata Suchocka. The stories are set in various dystopian futures, often featuring female protagonists navigating worlds shaped by pandemics, alien invasions, technological advances, and societal collapse. Examples include a courier struggling to survive in a post-pandemic world, a police investigation into child abductions involving alien technology, and a motorcycle gang member risking everything in illegal races. The anthology was published in November 2020 and is available as an audiobook, with the cover art by Tomasz Majewski receiving particular praise from some readers.

Readers appreciated several aspects of the anthology, notably the engaging and well-developed female protagonists and the vivid, immersive world-building in certain stories. Specific stories such as 'Heartbyte' by Martyna Raduchowska and 'Nitro' by Agata Suchocka were frequently highlighted as favorites for their compelling plots and creative use of cyberpunk motifs, such as subscription-based organs and technologically enhanced gang conflicts. The writing style was often described as accessible and gripping, with some readers noting that the stories were easy to visualize and that the audiobook narration was well-executed. The diversity of settings and the exploration of contemporary issues like pandemics, social inequality, and technological dependence were also mentioned as strengths.

Criticism centered on the uneven quality and execution of the stories, with many readers noting a decline in engagement or clarity as the anthology progressed. Several reviews mentioned that some stories felt rushed, underdeveloped, or ended abruptly, leaving readers unsatisfied or confused. There were also comments that the collection did not fully deliver on the promise of classic cyberpunk, with some stories leaning more towards post-apocalyptic or general science fiction rather than the genre's traditional themes. A few readers found the protagonists too similar to each other, and some felt that the anthology lacked deeper exploration of human-machine relationships or failed to subvert gender stereotypes as the title might suggest.

The anthology received a mixed overall reception, with an average rating of around 3.2 out of 5 from over 200 readers and a wide range of individual scores. Some readers compared it favorably to other Polish cyberpunk anthologies, while others expressed disappointment, especially those with high expectations for genre innovation or depth. The collection was seen by some as a good introduction to cyberpunk for newcomers, particularly in the context of the popularity of 'Cyberpunk 2077,' but experienced fans of the genre sometimes found it lacking in complexity or originality. The inclusion of multiple stories by the same authors and the absence of more varied perspectives were also noted as missed opportunities.