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The Tomorrow Project: Bestselling Authors Describe Daily Life in the Future
Paperback
Published January 1, 2011
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Douglas Rushkoff
107 books1,001 followersDouglas Rushkoff is a New York-based writer, columnist and lecturer on technology, media and popular culture.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 15, 2014
I picked up this book because I share Brian David Johnson's opinion that technology can learn a lot from science fiction. In good SF, technology is often used as a vehicle for exploring new human conditions. I was curious to see whether stories written to explore the effects of specific technologies could maintain their focus on people.
The results of this experiment are mixed. Scarlett Thomas delivers a strong tale about how nostalgia for the past impacts our adoption of new technologies. Thomas also explores mind control and how changing modes of communication can shape how form these thoughts.
Other stories focus on the technology at the expense of the story. In the Mercy Dash, after her mother recovers from surgery Sophie "put her head on one side and gazed up at her cool partner. His light-sensitive glasses were also very fashionable." Such mentions feel forced and do not contribute to the plot.
The foreword establishes the intent of the anthology: "These stories are not about technology, they are about the fascinating lives of their characters. Technology is simply a part of the drama." If Intel continues to support The Tomorrow Project, and I hope they do, they might seek inspiration from short stories such as Sleeper by Jo Walton or longer pieces like Pandora's Star by Peter Hamilton.
The results of this experiment are mixed. Scarlett Thomas delivers a strong tale about how nostalgia for the past impacts our adoption of new technologies. Thomas also explores mind control and how changing modes of communication can shape how form these thoughts.
Other stories focus on the technology at the expense of the story. In the Mercy Dash, after her mother recovers from surgery Sophie "put her head on one side and gazed up at her cool partner. His light-sensitive glasses were also very fashionable." Such mentions feel forced and do not contribute to the plot.
The foreword establishes the intent of the anthology: "These stories are not about technology, they are about the fascinating lives of their characters. Technology is simply a part of the drama." If Intel continues to support The Tomorrow Project, and I hope they do, they might seek inspiration from short stories such as Sleeper by Jo Walton or longer pieces like Pandora's Star by Peter Hamilton.
December 17, 2016
A collection of four short stories based on science currently being pursued. It was passed to me by a brilliant sciency friend who also makes a mean hot chocolate. I enjoyed all four stories but The Drop by Scarlet Thomas was my favorite. I want to look more into some of the science presented, each story had further resources for the topic they focused on at the end of the story. I am already feeling like I live in the future (even tho we should all be driving flying cars by now) because there mate so many wonderful things.. like the iPad I am writing this review on right now.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews