Monday, January 09, 2017

The Weird 1969 New Wave Sci-Fi Novel that Correctly Predicted the Current Day

The Millions: Stand on Zanzibar is that rarity among science fiction novels — it really made accurate predictions about the future. The book, published in 1969, is set in the year 2010, and this allows us to make a point-by-point comparison, and marvel at novelist John Brunner’s uncanny ability to anticipate the shape of the world to come. Indeed, his vision of the year 2010 even includes a popular leader named President Obomi — face it, Nate Silver himself couldn’t have done that back in 1969!

2 comments:

Jeff Meyerson said...

I've been meaning to read this for years - I'm a big fan of Dos Passos's USA trilogy - but though I picked up a copy years ago it is still unread on the shelf. Maybe this time.

Don Coffin said...

I still have my falling-apart paperback (and recently bought a digital copy). I used to re-read it every couple of years, but now it must be at least 30 years since I did. Blew me away the first time through.