Sci-fi Books That Turned Out to Be Real Innovations

In the world of sci-fi books, the year 2020 represented a far-off future where anything was possible. There were flying cars, and colonies on Mars, and robots that would wait on our every need. Now that 2020 is here, the world that sci-fi authors dreamed of may not be entirely true but there are definitely a few things they got right. These gizmos and gadgets were, at the time, just a figment of the writer’s imagination, now, in 2020, it turns out that some of these fantastical inventions have actually come to fruition. Here are some of the best technologies in sci-fi books that turned out to be real innovations.

Debit Cards – Looking Backward – Edward Bellamy – 1888

One of the predictive and innovative books of the 19th century, this novel by American author Edward Bellamy is widely credited for predicting a number of technologies we know today. The most prominent of these innovations Bellamy describes is the modern debit card.

The story is about Julian West, a young man who is hypnotized into a sleep from which he does not wake up for over 100 years. When he does wake up, he finds himself in the year 2000. Here he finds a socialist utopia that does reflect many aspects of the real year 2000. Here, people shop in warehouse club stores (not unlike BJ’s or Costco) and use cards preloaded with “credit” to pay for the goods. This was almost 70 years before the first credit or debit card was used.

Voicemail – Men Like Gods – H.G. Wells – 1923 

H.G. Wells is one of the kings of science fiction writing. He has written about all kinds of future technologies. Some, like atomic power and rockets that travel into space, has come true. Others, like his Time Machine, we are still waiting on. In his 1923 book, Men Like Gods, Wells tells the tale of Mr. Barnstaple, a journalist transported to the alternate, technologically advanced universe known as Utopia.

In this world, people do not talk on phones. They send wireless transmissions where “A message is sent to the station of the district in which the recipient is known to be, and there it waits until he chooses to tap his accumulated messages.” The receiver can then play and repeat the message as they like. So, next time you call a friend or family member and leave a voicemail, you will know H.G. Wells thought of it first.

Pharmaceuticals – Brave New World – Aldous Huxley – 1932

Today it seems like there is a pill for everything. Any disease, health condition, or mental or physical ailment has a pill that will help you feel better. A pill to boost moods, or an antidepressant, seems very normal today but almost 100 years ago, this was a pretty wild concept.

That is why in the Aldous Huxley classic novel Brave New World, it is so interesting to see his description of Soma, the wonder drug given to citizens of World State. This drug enhances mood and makes everyone feel like they are on a vacation. Even more presciently though, Huxley warned about too much of a good thing with these drugs as it turned out Soma was a way to control the populous.

Earbuds – Fahrenheit 451 – Ray Bradbury – 1953 

Next time you pop in your earbuds to take a phone call or listen to music, you can think about how author Ray Bradbury dreamed these little, portable communication devices up a half-century before anyone else did.

Bradbury’s 1953 classic novel described what he called "thimble radios". These in-ear listening devices provided the users with "an electronic ocean of sound, of music and talk". This sounds very much like the little white “thimble radios” that come with our phones today. Earbuds, as we know them, were actually developed in the 1980s but were popularized by Apple at the turn of the 21st century.

Streaming Services – Stand on Zanzibar – John Brunner - 1968

British sci-fi author John Brunner was known for creating incredibly detailed, vivid pictures of the future. In this book, he describes the year 2010 in great detail. There is a lot that is still fantasy but a number of his predictions have come true. The European Union, decriminalization of marijuana, laser printers, and electric cars are all things Brunner got more or less right.

One more thing that Brunner foresaw was streaming TV. Writing in a world where color TV had just started and there were very few choices of channels, he envisioned a device that would allow users to call up shows and watch them whenever they wanted. It wasn’t exactly the streaming wars we now have today but it was pretty close.  

Online Avatars – Snow Crash – Neal Stephenson – 1992 

This sci-fi novel by Neal Stephenson is about a hacker/ pizza delivery guy named Hiro Protagonist and a young skateboard courier named Y.T. Together they get involved with the CIC (the futuristic CIA) and the mafia when they discover a new drug named Snow Crash. Much of the story takes place in what Stephenson calls the “Metaverse”.

The Metaverse is Stephenson’s idea of what the internet would ultimately become. It combines what the internet was in the 90s with virtual reality, augmented reality, and massively multiplayer online games (MMO) where players control avatars. Within the decade, online universes such as Second Life and Active Worlds would rise to popularity. The creators of these worlds would reference Snow Crash as a direct influence.

Conclusion 

It is pretty amazing that decades ago, these sci-fi authors had the imagination and foresight to predict that these technological innovations would someday be a reality. And, although not everything from these books and this genre has come true, the fact that so much has, makes you wonder what sci-fi innovations will come true next?

Wondering what current sci-fi books could become a reality in the next ten years? Check out this article I came across which covers the best sci-fi books this year.