Reality Ahead of Schedule: How Science Fiction Inspires Science Fact

by Joel Levy

A rich visual history of science fiction's impact on real-world technologies, this book is perfect for lovers of H. G. Wells, Star Trek , Isaac Asimov, Jules Verne, Aldous Huxley, and 2001: A Space Odyssey .

Have you ever wished for a personal jet pack or a robot butler? Do you wonder how you would fare as an interplanetary traveler? Are you eagerly awaiting driverless cars? Reality Ahead of Schedule explores how what we imagine about the future has influenced our ability to make those ideas into reality. There are many vital technologies that science fiction not only predicted, but also helped bring into being.

Through lively narration and lavish illustrations, the book presents technological developments in the military, consumer, space exploration, medical, and communications fields. It explores the writers, futurists, and far-sighted inventors whose visions became realities, from the direct influence of H. G. Wells on the atomic bomb and the tank, to the ambitious prototypes created by inventors ahead of their time, such as Nikola Tesla's remote-controlled drone ship. The history and development of each technology is related in context, exploring the road from prescient fictional representation to real-life technology. Reality Ahead of Schedule offers readers the chance to meet and understand the impact of some of the greatest names and works in sci-fi, from Jules Verne and Aldous Huxley to Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov, Star Trek to the Bionic Man , alongside visionary inventors such as Tesla and Wernher von Braun.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science

224 pages, Hardcover

Published October 15, 2019

About the author

Joel Levy is a writer and journalist specializing in science and history. He is the author of over a dozen books, including The Little Book of Conspiracies and Scientific Feuds: From Galileo to the Human Genome Project. Phobiapedia is his first book for children.

Reviews

[Scott Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 stars) This book was a fun read about how science fiction has an impact on real science and the various inventions/initiatives it could help generate. Pulling from sci-fi literature and cinema, this work looks at various concepts, from portable technology to AI and social media, and notes what sort of sci-fi mediums discussed the concepts before they even came into being. It is not always directly prophetic, but nevertheless, it is fascinating to see that in some cases, an author or screenwriter fleshed out a fictional concept that somehow became scientific fact. Plenty of illustrations for this not-quite coffee-table sized book to keep all engaged. Does make one want to go out and read a bunch of H.G. Wells and watch some Star Trek re-runs.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 3.5 stars.

There is a world of information contained in this book giving insight into historical figures, from authors to scientists, even TV series, who were eerily correct in predicting everything from submarines to microwaves. Lots of pictures, photos and diagrams helping tie it all together.

But it needed a bit more editing. I stumbled on several typos, after which I began skimming rather than reading, hoping to not notice any more.

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was enjoyable reading, both to see how technology in sci-fi has showed up in the real world, and to see the wide range of science fiction I'd never even heard of. I had thought there would be more on virtual reality, but I guess there is only so much that can go in one book before it gets too long for some people to want to read it.

[brianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting, very interesting indeed

[Kelly D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating topic and well-researched.