A History of the Future
Prophets of Progress from H. G. Wells to Isaac Asimov

A wide-ranging survey of predictions about the future development and impact of science and technology through the twentieth century.

Peter J. Bowler (Author)

9781316602621, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 2 November 2017

298 pages
23.4 x 16.3 x 1.5 cm, 0.5 kg

'In A History of the Future, Peter Bowler paints a rich and engaging portrait of the interplay between speculative literature and technological innovation in the public sphere and in doing so sheds light on the processes by which innovations were conceived, created and became part of modern life. The result is a mixture of popular and academic intellectual history that makes a number of important contributions to the history of the origins of science fiction, the role of science in public discourse, and the technologies that competed in an open-ended quest for scientific 'progress'.' Liam Stowell, European Review of History: revue européenne d'histoire

In this wide-ranging survey, Peter J. Bowler explores the phenomenon of futurology: predictions about the future development and impact of science and technology on society and culture in the twentieth century. Utilising science fiction, popular science literature and the novels of the literary elite, Bowler highlights contested responses to the potential for revolutionary social change brought about by real and imagined scientific innovations. Charting the effect of social and military developments on attitudes towards innovation in Europe and America, Bowler shows how conflict between the enthusiasm of technocrats and the pessimism of their critics was presented to the public in books, magazines and exhibitions, and on the radio and television. A series of case studies reveals the impact of technologies such as radio, aviation, space exploration and genetics, exploring rivalries between innovators and the often unexpected outcome of their efforts to produce mechanisms and machines that could change the world.

1. Introduction: progress or threat?
2. The prophets: their backgrounds and ambitions
3. How we'll live
4. Where we'll live
5. Communicating and computing
6. Getting around
7. Taking to the air
8. Journey into space
9. War
10. Energy and environment
11. Human nature
12. Epilogue: Plus ça change?

Subject Areas: History of science [PDX], 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000 [HBLW], Science fiction [FL], Literary studies: from c 1900 - [DSBH]