I've been a bit distracted of late (but then again, when haven't I been distracted...) however, I've been trying to come up with ideas for the contest. Most of these are either alternate history, or rather close to the classic definition of cyberpunk rather than a new transfiguration of the genre, however.
Dead and Back - the Prequel
Yes, its been entirely too long since I posted any stores or did major work on D&B. However, some of you may recall that the game involves Cybernetics, Nano-surgeons, mega-structures, augmented reality, and war via drones as part of the background. While there may not have been corporate states, it was generally a cybered up/approaching trans-human society before the whole alien invasion and walking dead reduced the world to city-states and scavengers. Anti-government communes like Ruby Ridge, and reactionary forces like the New Birmingham theocracy got their start somewhere after all, and this would be a chance to see their grievances up front.
Lagrange Grunge:
Everyone lives aboard a space station, which is a closed system with far less room for error than an entire planet would offer. Discipline and order are only slightly less harsh than on a ship at war. Of course, there is going to be a youthful rebellion aspect of people trying to find unmonitored service areas to have impromptu raves, or adjust the computers for extra water rations so that hydroponic garden of black market fresh vegetables (and other plants...) can grow.
Of course, you're looking at limited O-2 reserves and nothing but a thin hull to keep it in, so there are perhaps a half dozen guns amongst the entire population. Focus would be heavy on fist fights, and possibly improvised melee weapons. (There's no trees, jungles, or beef - so why would you have axes, machetes, or even steak knives?)
Courier Punk (Option A)
How about a setting with next to no telecommunications? 1960 is about the cut-off date for a "winnable" nuclear war (see ) in so far as the USSR would be severely lacking in delivery systems and warheads. (Turgidson: Mr. President, I'm not saying we wouldn't get our hair mussed, but I do say no more than ten to twenty million killed, tops, uh, depending on the breaks.)
Of course, this is still the heyday of megaton warheads to compensate for poor accuracy...
So with the capitol cities and major population centers vaporized, tech development and production stagnates, perhaps even regresses for a while. 20 to 30 years on, there is no net, or much of a telecommunication system, vacuum tubes are still the main electronic component (transistors for some, microchips nowhere) and the provisional government still has not given way to free elections.
Of course the war only delayed the 60's movements of equality and sexual revolution (in fact, the new population demographics make these elements all the more pressing) though the more liberal places like Chicago and LA are still glowing craters. However, while to gov may be kinda right wing, there are even father out movements touting such grievances as "its government that started the war" or "we recovered through good-old community spirit, why should the federals stick their nose in now that the work is done?" DiY and counter-culture would be alive, though mix-tapes would be on reel-to-reel rather than cassette.
Option B for Courier Punk would postulate a lack of electronic information sharing based on a overwhelming lack of privacy (ie Eschalon/NSA/1984) making hand to hand transfer the only way to remain secretive. Kind of like the video game "Mirror's Edge" though probably with a little less emphasis on jumping puzzles.
TransHuman UnderGround
The first rule of writing SF: Most readers are human, and thus they emphasize with human characters. It doesn't matter how much more effective it is to use guided missiles over manned spacecraft - readers want ace pilots, not the life and times of warhead serial number31415emc2. This extends to the fact they have something against post-humans. Consider for a moment that StarTrek has functional Mass-Energy conversion devices, yet many elements of the H+ agenda are either frowned upon (gene engineering) or outright vilified (cybernetics). (Also of note: )
So any >H organisms would be an underclass or discriminated against. I'm inclined to draw parallels to the X-men, albeit with slightly less physics defying powers.
The Mirror Shades of Red Death
Imagine for a moment that one of those dreadful made for TV movies or history channel specials about a new pandemic striking the world came true. Yes, it would suck and our Mt. Dew supplies might run dangerously low, but it would certainly open up positions for urban mercenaries (ie Street Samurai) as so popular in the source materiel, albeit with fewer bio-mechanical prosthetics and shorter hair.
With most of the police dead, scared, or busy with government work, and crematoriums running 24/7 for disposal, its likely more than a few murders would go unnoticed - hence the need for private security or revenge. Similarly, slow aid shipments means either professional scavengers, or bonded couriers to get them there faster. Of course, there is always the simple rebel against authority and use the skate-park after dark.
Return of the Recursive Retinue
A lot of people fell in with a B.A.D.D. crowd, and and many more believed the hype about video games equating murder simulators. Table Top war games as subversive, since they can teach about small unit tactics or seemingly predict that the US military would be less than invincible in the face of the commie horde. Unpatriotic plays like "The Crucible" and "Lysistrata" need licenses and permission to preform.
The players are an underground group of indie game designers and writers, out to defy the law and pretend to be elves as is their Gygax given right.
No, I don't know if this last one really is a joke or not.