All Tomorrow’s Futures Fictions That Disrupt edited by Benjamin Greenaway & Stephen Oram (book review).
The future has always been a focus for writers. Writers have utilized both fiction and non-fiction to draw attention to issues that the society of the time was accumulating for itself and future generations, and this approach can have a significant impact. Rachel Carson’s book ‘Silent Spring’ looked at the impact of pesticides on the environment and led to the banning of DDT as an insecticide. It was a book that sparked controversy. Writers of science fiction can do the same if they can reach enough readers. Recently, scientists and science fiction writers have started collaborating in focus groups, using scientific facts and their extrapolation to create stories that could serve as real indicators of the direction society is taking.
This kind of collaboration resulted in ‘All Tomorrow’s Futures’. We have divided our potential future into five sections, each containing five original stories and commentary from two experts in the field.
Part 1 considers ‘Police and Justice’. The stories lack optimism, as they heavily rely on AI, which is the root of the problem in all cases. In ‘All Born Machines’ by Sophie Sparham, a jury is trying to decide if a police officer who shot three protesters is guilty of murder. He opened fire because the AI controlling the force said they were known terrorists, but how was the facial recognition system programmed? Tehnuka’s ‘Updated Intelligence’ presents a similar challenge with AI. It highlights the limitations of the system. The smart fridge in a second home orders fresh food when no one is home, prompting the police to investigate. This means that there is an intruder. Some systems remain unupdated, others struggle with program overload, and neither considers the possibility of technology malfunctioning. ‘Ego Statistical’ by Stephen Oram continues the theme of an over-reliance on those who devise the algorithms. In this scenario, the entire justice system undergoes automation. A man is arrested for a crime he didn’t commit and eventually pardoned, even though proof of innocence shows he was actually committing a different kind of crime. Ira Nayman’s ‘The Program Never Lies’ explores this concept. Reliance on a faulty algorithm leads to obsession as a cop becomes convinced of an innocent man’s guilt. Again, the problem is with facial recognition software programming. ‘ELIJAH’ by Wendy M. Grossman runs with a similar theme, in that the belief that the computer cannot lie leads to wrongful convictions.
Computer systems have always recognized that the information they receive limits their capabilities. All these stories imply that relying on them to manage our justice systems will lead to errors and plunge us into the realm of Orwell’s ‘1984’.
‘Power and Energy’ is currently a concern for everyone, especially when not solving the problem has led to climate change. This is the theme of Part 2. Those who believe they are above the rules are always present. In ‘Milton Friedman’s Heresy’ by DJ Cockburn, a group of multi-billionaires are living on a cruise liner at sea, trying to evade their responsibilities to the planet. They have prioritized economic growth over pressing environmental issues. ‘Legacy’ by Zed Badowska takes a different slant. In the pursuit of cheap, sustainable energy, the resulting economic growth actually does more damage to the climate, accelerating the changes that green energy was supposed to mitigate. Tim Kindberg’s ‘The Bracelet and the Battery’ centers on addressing a distinct problem. Climate change is causing more migration, leading to the assignment of immigrants to low-skilled jobs and their tagging. Jacqui is responsible for Sam’s care, but during a trip into the countryside, Sam suffers a seizure and the ambulance takes him away. The charge is that her bracelet is rapidly diminishing, and if it dies, leaving her untrackable, she will be deported. Allen Ashley’s ‘Other Cheeses Are Available’ is set in a world where travel is severely curtailed to reduce carbon emissions. That applies to food, too. Catching Zander with Ecuadorian Blue Cheese puts him in serious danger. While these stories are concerned with the lack of sustainable power, ‘Daylight Robbery’ by Prashant Vaze heads in a different direction. Irfan Jouahri thinks creatively and redirects funds from other projects to areas that truly require them.
Part 3 takes a look at ‘Finance and Digital Money’. Already, some aspects of today’s society are embracing the idea of a cashless society. ‘Don’t Say That, You’ll Make It Happen’ by Eddie Robson reflects on the idea of making all money digital; there could be issues with access. Kate Baucherel’s ‘A House of Cards’ imagines a future where an algorithm collects all your data and controls your life. Cassie and her friends aim to take it down. ‘Update Needed’ by Alex Buxton shows how simple it is for things to go wrong when everyone relies on algorithms for digital transactions. ‘Swipe Right’ by Eva Pascoe shows how simple it can be for a hacker to take down a system everyone relies on by diverting digital funds away from the payment stream. Wendy M. Grossman’s report ‘Heritage’ describes how a kidnapped child demanded a ransom in non-traceable crypto currency. All these stories flag up the dangers of relying too much on digital currencies without some kind of fallback, like cash, when things go wrong.
In the current climate, health is a leading concern, and science is working to keep people alive for longer, so it is not surprising that Part 4 seeks to address ideas on ‘Health and Longevity’. In ‘Signpost To Normal’ by Rosie Oliver, there are treatments to extend life, but to take them means a choice between longevity and creativity. ‘I Am Not, Until I Am’ by Jesse Rowell suggests opposing approaches to grief and mental health, neither of which are particularly healthy. By gathering health data, Live Again recreates memories of a lost loved one. Opposing it is the religious guidance light, which sees prayer as the way to salvation. Again, people have a choice. ‘Journey to Brindisfarne Abbey’ by Eva Pascoe offers a different kind of choice. People travel to the Abbey to benefit from the development of artificial wombs, as they are unable to carry a child themselves. In Jendia Gammon’s ‘The Theseus Stone’, the choice is in the latter part of life. The Theseus Stone is an implant that rejuvenates the body. Reaching menopause, Galena thinks that it might be the answer to her physical problems, but, in a world dominated by AI, she finds she cannot accept corporations making personal decisions for her. We may want longevity, but it isn’t necessarily a defeat of death. Britta Schulte’s ‘Warning Signs’ follows the last day of a man running out of time even after longevity treatments.
The final section deals with ‘Learning and Education’ and has the greatest variety of stories. Randall Hayes’ ‘The Elder Colossus’ envisions a future where the majority of children homeschool and pursue their own interests. Pat, who is in her eighties, serves as one of their tutors. In total contrast, Jane Norris’s ‘Euglena’ follows the learning curve of an intelligent slime mold. Stephen Oram’s ‘See Me’ posits that an AI requires validation to gain acceptance as a learning tool. Simone and her AI are up against a deadline to get that certificate. Vaughan Stanger’s ‘Elephant Talk’ goes beyond the recent discovery of elephants calling each other by name, employing implants to probe the inner emotions of the remaining surviving elephants. AI, though, can be a blessing for some. Paul Currion uses ‘These Meteorological Qualities’ to teach an autistic boy how to cope with the world.
Predicting the future is always a haphazard process, a fine example of Chaos Theory, but the odds of heading in the right direction narrow when discussions with those working in the field are involved. Many of these stories still fall under the category of a ‘Dire Warning’, projecting unsettling futures. Most of these stories are intertwined with other current concerns, as they cannot be viewed in isolation, and some have the potential to escalate into more significant and terrifying scenarios. This is the type of collaboration that all politicians should be aware of, enabling them to truly consider the consequences of their actions.
Pauline Morgan
July 2024
(pub: Cybersalon Press, UK. 2024. 330 page enlarged paperback. Price: £12.49 (UK). ISBN: 978-1-73959-393-3)
check out website: https://cybersalonpress.com/