Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Futurism.
LOSTBOY: A Dark Dystopian Cyberpunk Short
A frantic woman, decked out in leather, spikes, and a mohawk, races through desert mist, dodging jagged pillars of cybernetic waste. On her trail is Lostboy, a cyborg hunter who's more metal than man, and has a singular objective: catching his prey.
By Mickey Rivera9 years ago in Futurism
The Lathe of Heaven Proves Idealists Can Be the Most Dangerous Among Us
I read Poland by James Michener a number of years ago and came to a startling conclusion after reading the chapters on the Nazi Occupation during World War II. I certainly know of the Holocaust and that Hitler wasn’t particularly fond of Poles in general. But I was not aware that his long term goal was to not only eradicate every single Polish person from that country but from the face of the earth. Wow. The question that then arose is how do you get an entire occupying force – especially professional soldiers and officers - to carry out such a definitive and horrific action? Well, if they think they are making the world a better place, it’s easy, and that’s what Nazi indoctrination made them think. In this, I determined that idealists can be the most dangerous among us, and that was what came to me as I watched the 1980 PBS adaptation of Ursula Le Guin’s, The Lathe of Heaven.
By Rich Monetti9 years ago in Futurism
Weirdest Characters in 'Star Wars Legends' Canon
With Star Wars: The Last Jedi fast approaching, it is clear that the Star Wars universe will be expanding and growing in the next years to come. However, for many growing up in the 80s and 90s in the aftermath of Return of the Jedi, the future of the Galaxy Far, Far Away looked far less than glamorous.
By Anthony Gramuglia9 years ago in Futurism
New Findings from Two 'Ocean Moons' Increase Possibility of Finding Alien Life
For those who are hoping to find evidence of life somewhere else in the Solar System, there was some exciting news this week. Two moons, Europa and Enceladus, were already thought to be among the best places to search, since both have liquid water oceans beneath their outer icy shells. And now, new data from the Cassini spacecraft and the Hubble Space Telescope has increased the potential for some form of living organisms to be found.
By Paul Scott Anderson9 years ago in Futurism
The Climate Change Reversal Project
By the time the sun reached its apex the temperature was well on its way to reach the predicted high of 118 degrees. For Sydney, Australia, another day of record-setting temperatures. Over three-fourths of the world's population has already been evacuated because of rising sea levels. For years now scientists have been warning about rising seas and yet too many political leaders scoffed at the idea of man-induced climate change. But now, faced with global devastation that is unprecedented in modern times it just maybe too late for Mother Earth. The human race is now on the verge of extinction. All over the world for the past few years there continues to be record-setting temperatures. Places like Seattle, Washington and even London, England have seen days on end where the temperatures have reached 110 degrees or higher. Compounding the massive heat waves, the world is witnessing increasing violent hurricanes and typhoons. Never before in recent history has the world been thrust into such an inferno.
By Dr. Williams9 years ago in Futurism
Why Time Travel Is So Enjoyable
Time travel is my favorite kind of science fiction – precisely because it’s almost certainly impossible. Not like travel to other planets, which makes great science fiction, but we're already beginning to do in reality. Or artificial intelligence and robots, which also makes for great science fiction, but we're also already beginning to do, a least little. But time travel is different because it's so likely impossible – as far we know, we're not doing any of it today, and have never done it. As far as we know, no one from the future has yet to pay us a visit. And because time travel is so likely impossible, seeing how time travel stories can work, can make sense, anyway, is a special kind of fun.
By Paul Levinson9 years ago in Futurism
Free Will Gets A Chance In The Adjustment Bureau With Matt Damon
There is no power of prayer. Given the Holocaust, the Belgium Congo and Walmart, God obviously stands by to see whether you pass the entry test. On the other hand, I believe if the world reaches an unmanageable sea change, he reluctantly sends in an Einstein or an Oppenheimer. But according to The Adjustment Bureau, a 2011 adaptation of another Philip K. Dick novel, the course of world events is closely monitored and manipulated – leaving nothing to chance in the face of free will.
By Rich Monetti9 years ago in Futurism
Mad Max Racks Up the Mileage but Isn’t Much of a Journey to the End of the World
Mad Max returned in 2015 and got itself an Oscars 2015 Nomination for Best Picture. The film’s sheer presentation for Hollywood’s latest dystopian future definitely deserves its due. But once past the innovative visuals and high octane action, the lack of a story relegates Fury Road to nothing more than a high speed tractor pull to the end of the world
By Rich Monetti9 years ago in Futurism
New 'Star Wars' Trailer 'The Last Jedi' Is Released
Star Wars fans have been anticipating the release of the new The Last Jedi trailer since the rolling credits of The Force Awakens appeared on the big screen. Unfortunately, Disney took their time and they made us wait – more than one year –for the trailer. Fortunately, we had Rogue One and a few Untitled Han Solo Film photographs released. All I have to say is, thank goodness Disney didn't wait until May The Fourth to release the trailer. I wouldn't be able to go another month until knowing who The Last Jedi is (or, are). Since The Force Awakens premiered in December 2015, fans have speculated over the lineage of Rey, the fate of Han, the mysteries surrounding Luke, and who the hell the Last Jedi is (Is Jedi plural? Is it Luke? Is it Rey?).
By Natasha Sydor9 years ago in Futurism
'Star Wars' the First Draft - What Could Have Been
When George Lucas set out to create Star Wars, he thought up a fantastic world that drew from the stories he read as a child and growing up. Flash Gordon. Buck Rodgers. All with the maturity and complexity of Frank Herbert's Dune. But when he wrote his script and showed it to his director friends, they all had suggestions.
By Anthony Gramuglia9 years ago in Futurism
The Dead Zoo: Stegosaurus
Stegosaurus means “roofed lizard.” I never really understood why. The trundling herbivore bore an offset row of bony, triangular plates along the midline of its back, but this arrangement didn’t really look like a roof so much as a series of sails. Whether trying to keep off the rain or provide a barrier to serrated teeth, the plates didn't look like a very effective awning.
By Brian Switek9 years ago in Futurism
