Which science fiction novels have been best at predicting the future?
We’ve loved sci-fi at New Scientist for the past 70 years, but which novels got the future right? From Neuromancer to The Handmaid’s Tale, Emily H. Wilson picks the most prescient reads of the past seven decades
New Scientist has long been captivated by science fiction and its attempts to envision the future. In 1958, when the magazine was just two years old, it featured an article by Ian S. Menzies that highlighted the superior nature of the best science fiction compared to other genres. Menzies observed that some science fiction works rapidly became outdated as reality caught up with them, but other stories remained relevant and prophetic decades later.
The source aims to identify science fiction novels published throughout New Scientist's seven-decade history that have proven both prophetic and enduringly pertinent as the world changed around them.
The Death of Grass by John Christopher (1956) is an English period piece that foreshadows modern crises such as pandemics, fragile food supply lines, and the detrimental impact of big agriculture. The story begins with a virus killing grasses, including all cereal crops, leading to a rapid collapse of food reserves and a lawless England. The novel's characters make questionable decisions but provide a cautionary tale about the fragility of society.
Robert A. Heinlein's The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress (1966) is set in 2075 and follows a group of lunar residents planning to overthrow their Earth overlords. The book features an advanced AI named Mike, which remains prescient compared to 1960s ideas about artificial intelligence. The story explores themes of rebellion, climate change, and moral exhaustion, making it a classic despite its dull execution.
Ursula K. Le Guin's The Dispossessed (1974) remains fresh and relevant, featuring a brilliant physicist named Shevek living in a future where human colonies have divided into anarchy and elite rule. The novel addresses climate change, moral exhaustion, repression, and inequality, making it a timeless exploration of human struggles.
The 1980s saw the publication of two influential science fiction novels: Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid’s Tale (1985) and William Gibson's Neuromancer (1984). Atwood's dystopian tale depicts a United States captured by a radical right-wing group, known as the Republic of Gilead, where women's rights have been abolished. The story of Offred, a handmaid forced to produce a baby for her master, is a chilling reminder of current events.
Neuromancer, on the other hand, presents a cyberpunk dystopia that remains thrilling in 2025. Although the book was written by a non-computer expert, its vision of cyberspace and the protagonist's role as a former hacker make it a prescient work that continues to resonate.
Written by urgent.news from New Scientist's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
