The easiest way to answer the question “What is dreampunk?” is to throw out some clear examples of the genre and let you see for yourself. This list is by no means complete, so please add your own examples in the comments.
Somniscope: A Dreampunk Convergence
A multi-author novel/collection hybrid edited by Cliff Jones Jr.
Dreck (2023)
A novella by Cliff Jones Jr. Read the reviews!
DreamScape (2023)
By Antonia Rachel Ward.
The Dream Chasers series (2019–2023)
By Martin Matthews.
The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer (2022)
A multi-author collection edited by Janelle Monáe.
The Dream Phaze series (2019–2022)
By Matt Watters.
Legend of the Mind (2021)
A graphic novel by Jeffrey Hopp.
Mirrormaze: A Dreampunk Anthology (2020)
A multi-author choose-your-path collection edited by Cliff Jones Jr. Read the reviews!
Steggie Belle and the Dream Warriors (2020)
By Elias Pell. Read his interview!
The Mirrors series (2019–2020)
By Sonya Deulina Williams. Read her interview!
The Gay Wizard series (2019–2020)
By V. S. Santoni. Read their interview!
Urban Gothic (2019)
A novella by Stephen Coghlan. Read his interview!
The Soul Sleep Cycle (2017–2019)
By David Michael Williams. Read his interview!
The Vivid Dreamer (2018)
By Kurt Wagner, Suzanne Wyles, and Jason Gronich.
Exit (2018)
A novella by Crispian Thurlborn.
The Strange the Dreamer series (2017–2018)
By Laini Taylor.
Mis(h)adra (2017)
A graphic novel by Iasmin Omar Ata.
The Roam series (2016–2017)
By Dez Schwartz. Read her interview!
Letters to the Black Underground (2016)
By Yelena Calavera. Read her interview!
Storm Dreams (2016)
By Jeb R. Sherrill. Read his interview!
Hoodoo (2016)
A children’s novel by Ronald L. Smith.
Jerusalem (2016)
By Alan Moore.
The Dream World series (2013–2015)
By Tony Ballantyne.
Wolf in White Van (2014)
By John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats.
The Scott Pilgrim series (2004–2010)
A comic series by Bryan Lee O’Malley.
The Darkening of the Light (2012)
By Tessa B. Dick. Read her interview!
A Monster Calls (2011)
A children’s novel by Patrick Ness.
Secret Cages (2009)
By Barry Hale.
The Newford series (1993–2004)
By Charles de Lint.
The Dark Tower series (1982–2004)
By Stephen King.
Perdido Street Station (2000)
By China Miéville.
Girl in Landscape (1998)
By Jonathan Lethem.
The Vurt series (1993–1997)
By Jeff Noon. Read his interview!
Neverwhere (1996)
By Neil Gaiman.
Fight Club (1996)
By Chuck Palahniuk.
The Sandman series (1989–1996)
A comic series by Neil Gaiman.
Amnesia Moon (1995)
By Jonathan Lethem.
Bigot Hall (1995)
A novella by Steve Aylett. Read his interview!
Snow Crash (1992)
By Neal Stephenson.
Philip K. Dick Is Dead, Alas (1987)
By Michael Bishop.
Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World (1985)
By Haruki Murakami.
Incarnate (1983)
By Ramsey Campbell.
White Light (1980)
By Rudy Rucker. Read his interview!