A Short History of the Future

by W. Warren Wagar

A dazzling and imaginative combination of fiction and scholarship, this speculative history of the future is a memoir of postmodern times. This second edition shows how the events of 1989 and their aftermath reinforce Wagar's predictions of the future. "A breathtaking future history in the manner of Wells and Stapledon, unnerving in its mixture of facts, fiction, and personal perspectives."—George Zebrowski, New York Review of Science Fiction

Genres: Science Fiction, Alternate History, Fiction

340 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1989

About the author

Walter Warren Wagar

Reviews

[David C. Mueller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers three possible scenarios for the future of the human race based on the branch of scholarship called future studies. The result is a compelling fictional history that reads at times like a textbook and others like a science fiction novel. The three alternate futures are combined into a single narrative that uses succeeding generations of a single fictional family to tie it together. The first future follows modern global capitalism as it spreads to engulf all of humanity in its corporate embrace. The second future describes a united world society similar in some aspects to that advocated by such groups as the Baha'is, but without the religious emphasis. The third future presents an even more radical departure from modernity by combining the abandonment of power politics and production-based economy with humanity using stunning advances in molecular biology to remake itself in ways that may seem disturbing to the modern reader. This book is a very thought-provoking read that provides the opportunity to compare three possible futures in an unified future history setting.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a difficult book to review. I've tried to read this book three times since college, and just haven't made past the first few pages. To be honest, the first 30 pages (or more) are a slog, mostly because they describe years that are now past rather than future and are too wonky regarding geo-political upheaval.

Things get really interesting around 2040 (the year, not the page number) when the Catastrophe happens. Virtually everything that occurs after that is fascinating from a what-if perspective. Of course, it's still written historically and somewhat dryly, so don't expect a page-turner. And the interludes, while a welcome break from the prose, are mostly dispensable. (I think it's funny that even 10 years into Wagar's future, let alone hundreds, that there would be letter-like correspondence between relatives and friends.)

Can I recommend this book? Maybe. If you start just before the Catastrophe and skip around the rest of the book depending on your speculative future interests, you just might get something out of it. Reading it straight through was a chore, though one with a few interesting diversions along the way.

[Uzma Naz]

The implications of this are fascinating. In essence, there is no single political mode that can serve all people for all time. Everything is essentially dynamic; the same applies to people's technological and, if I may add, spiritual needs. When one plane of existence is perfected, it gives way to the perpetuation of yet another plane.

[Stacy Chance · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is an update of this since I read it in the early 90's, so this version may be dated, but it was a very interesting attempt to paint a story of our political, religious, and economic future as a planet based on past and current trends. Told as fiction as a historical accoutn in the 2200's.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book chronicles a possible future covering the next two hundred years from the present! Whilst effectively a work of fiction, the events described during the period in question are based on trends we see in our own time. An excellent read!

[Mae · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a hard time with nonfiction, and though this is technically fiction- it is also written pretty historically. That said, I did enjoy the concepts and scenarios imagined for our future. I would recommend this book to people who love both history and scifi.

[Luís Corujo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este é o mais realista e o mais provável futuro da humanidade

[Jesse]

It was certainly an interesting class when I took it at SUNY Binghamton.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

A unique work, which certainly gives us perspective even now.