Altered Carbon is a science fiction novel by Richard K. Morgan, first published in 2002. It is the first book in the "Takeshi Kovacs" series, which includes sequels such as "Broken Angels" and "Woken Furies.""Altered Carbon" explores themes such as identity, mortality, the ethics of technology, and the nature of consciousness. It combines elements of hard-boiled detective fiction with gritty cyberpunk aesthetics, creating a noir-infused, action-packed narrative.