THX-1138 is set in the 25th century. Except for the ridiculously near future-like 1984 and 2001-the 25th century is the most popular era for science fiction writers. Two perceptions are prominent. In one scenario a nuclear war has caused mankind to revert to primitive eras. In the other something has happened that united the planet under one government. It may be nice or dictatorial, run by humans, robots or mutants, but unchallenged except by one small organization so much like the author the political message crushes the plot. These scenarios make easy budgets for film and tv but are completely unrealistic. There were no science fiction writers 500 years ago. I doubt they would have followed that route. What might they have projected for our era? In the 1500s a European child could expect his country to go to war about once every 20 years. Today everyone can expect his country to go to war within 20 years. In the 1500s a young person who changed her religion could expect to be harassed by family and friends and possibly someday imprisoned by her government. Today a young person who changes her religion can expect to be harassed by her family and possibly someday imprisoned by her government. In the 1500s the air was dirty, water sometimes undrinkable, and new diseases popping up regularly. Today the air is dirty, water sometimes undrinkable, and new diseases popping up regularly. In the 1500s racial and ethnic differences were frequent causes of fights almost everywhere. Today racial and ethnic differences are frequent causes of fights almost everywhere. In the 1500s people with unpopular opinions and lifestyles were censored, mocked and sometimes beaten. Today people with unpopular opinions and lifestyles are censored, mocked and sometimes beaten. Therefore the most realistic guess about what life will be like in the 25th century is about the same as now, with some adjustments in geography and architecture.
The Bible is probably the first science fiction. It has extraterrestrials trying to conquer earth and it has alternate dimensions and people with strange psychic powers. Other than that HG Wells is considered the father of science fiction.
I didn't read The Time Machine but I saw the movie and I believe the novel I wrote recently addresses the matters no previous story has addressed. If you read it, can you tell me: Did he really predict both world wars and the cold war, including air raids? Does he really learn that his "friend" has a son only when he comes out and talks to the son in 1917? Does he really meet the same man 50 years later? If I were him: I would know whether my friend had a son in 1899, not 1917. If I learned my friend had been killed in a war in 1915 I would have gone back to 1914 and chopped off one leg so he couldn't be drafted. I would then have gotten back in the time machine and proceeded to 1919, and confirmed that father and son were alive before going any further forward. I was hoping this thread could turn quickly to fun, naming the sillies sci-fi predictions. Twilight Zone: "since human boxing was outlawed in 1964 robots do the fighting." Night Gallery: A woman drives through fog and meets her daughter-in-law 20 years later in a strange-looking house. She asks for a cigarette. They have a pack of tobacco-free cigarettes and the girl thinks it's the only brand. Lost in Space: Dr. Smith tells Will he can't vote until he's 21. It was filmed while the amendment was pending to lower the age to 18.
