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1984 by George Orwell (1949): The Dawn of Surveillance Technology
It’s chilling how George Orwell’s vision of a world ruled by “Big Brother” has become so real. In *1984*, citizens live under constant watch—cameras everywhere, privacy nowhere. Fast-forward to today, and cities like London bristle with more than 500,000 CCTV cameras, making public surveillance a normal fact of life. Even more unsettling, facial recognition software now scans crowds in airports and stadiums, matching faces to databases in seconds. Smart speakers like Amazon Alexa and Google Home, always on and always listening, echo Orwell’s telescreens, raising new privacy debates. Many people accept these devices for their convenience, but the anxiety about who is listening never fully goes away. The echoes of *1984* are everywhere, making it impossible to ignore how a fiction from 1949 predicted the digital dilemmas we face every day.
Neuromancer by William Gibson (1984): The Birth of Cyberspace and Hacking
William Gibson’s *Neuromancer* didn’t just invent the word “cyberspace”—it brought the entire concept of a digital world to life. Gibson’s hackers, jacked in and exploring virtual realities, painted a world that felt wild and impossible back in the ’80s. Now, cyberspace is our everyday reality: the internet is where we work, play, and socialize. Virtual reality headsets like the Oculus Quest put people inside digital worlds that look eerily like Gibson’s imagination. Meanwhile, cybercrime is a massive headache for everyone from banks to small businesses, with hacking attacks up by 50% in recent years according to SonicWall. Gibson’s vision of digital cowboys feels prophetic, especially as cybersecurity becomes more vital and more fraught. Today’s data breaches and ransomware attacks are the modern-day heists he imagined.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (1953): Predicting Personal Media Devices
Ray Bradbury’s *Fahrenheit 451* is famous for its fear of book burning, but it’s just as remarkable for predicting our obsession with screens and headphones. Bradbury’s characters tune out the world with “seashell” earbuds, which look a lot like today’s AirPods—over 100 million pairs sold in 2023 alone. He imagined walls covered with giant TV screens, now a reality with flat-screen HDTVs mounted in living rooms across the globe. Interactive streaming platforms like Netflix and YouTube fulfill his vision of media that responds to us, rather than the other way around. People can now binge-watch their favorite shows, talk back to their devices, and lose hours in a screen-lit haze. Bradbury’s warnings about social isolation and the seductive power of media feel more relevant than ever, as screens become our constant companions.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (1932): Genetic Engineering and Mood Control
Aldous Huxley’s *Brave New World* was written before computers even existed, yet it foresaw a future shaped by science and technology. Huxley described a society built on genetic engineering, where people’s DNA is carefully designed before birth. Today, CRISPR technology gives scientists the power to alter genes with stunning precision, offering hope for treating inherited diseases. Huxley’s “soma,” a mood-altering drug, echoes the widespread use of antidepressants—an $18 billion market in 2023. Immersive entertainment, once science fiction, is now a reality with VR headsets and lifelike video games. Huxley’s world looked frightening, but it’s hard to deny we’re living in a time where his predictions have become possible. The ethical questions he raised are the same ones we’re wrestling with now, as biotech and pharmaceuticals reshape what it means to be human.
Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson (1992): The Metaverse and Digital Currency
Neal Stephenson’s *Snow Crash* gave us the word “Metaverse”—a sprawling digital world where avatars work, play, and live. Stephenson’s vision is being built today by tech giants like Meta, which has poured billions into creating its own virtual universe. People now use avatars on social platforms, play games in shared digital spaces, and attend concerts without leaving home. Stephenson also predicted digital currency, and the rise of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum has changed how people think about money. The global crypto market topped $1 trillion in 2024, with millions trading, saving, and even earning a living in digital cash. Online personas, virtual economies, and new ways to socialize—all these are part of daily life now, making Stephenson’s wild world less science fiction and more business as usual.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (1979): Digital Assistants and E-Books
Douglas Adams wrote with a wink and a grin, but his predictions were spot-on. In *The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy*, the titular guidebook is a talking, all-knowing device—basically an early version of the Kindle, loaded with information at the tap of a finger. Today, e-books have changed how people read, with over 90 million Kindles sold as of 2023. Digital assistants like Siri and Alexa are now part of daily life, answering questions, telling jokes, and helping with chores. Adams’ blend of humor and foresight showed how technology could be both mind-blowing and mundane. The idea of carrying a smart, talking guide in your pocket is now so normal that most people don’t even think about how strange it once sounded.
Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy (1888): E-Commerce and Cashless Payments
Few could have guessed in 1888 that Edward Bellamy’s *Looking Backward* would be so prophetic. Bellamy imagined a future where people shopped from home and paid with “credit cards”—ideas that seemed absurd in his time. Now, e-commerce is everywhere: Amazon alone dominates global shopping, and online sales hit $6 trillion in 2023. Shopping from the couch is second nature, and contactless payments using credit cards, Apple Pay, or Google Wallet are expected, not exotic. The pandemic made digital payments standard almost overnight. Bellamy’s vision wasn’t just about gadgets—it was about how technology would change the way people live, buy, and interact with the world.
Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner (1968): Overpopulation and Media Overload
John Brunner’s *Stand on Zanzibar* is a kaleidoscope of future anxieties, many of which have come true. He predicted a world struggling with overpopulation, a problem that feels urgent now that Earth’s population hit 8 billion in 2023. Brunner also foresaw nonstop media: today, the average person is bombarded with over 10 hours of media per day, according to Nielsen. Genetic engineering and electric cars, both featured in his book, are now part of everyday conversation. Tesla, for example, leads a growing electric vehicle market, with EVs making up more than 14% of global car sales. Brunner’s complex, connected future feels less like science fiction and more like a snapshot of modern life, where technology and society are tangled together in ways he saw coming decades ago.
The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster (1909): Video Calls and Remote Work
More than a century ago, E.M. Forster’s *The Machine Stops* described a world where people lived in isolation, communicating only through screens. It sounds eerily familiar to anyone who’s used Zoom or Teams for work or school. During the pandemic, video calls became essential, with over 300 million daily users on Zoom in 2023. Online learning exploded, with millions enrolling in MOOCs from their bedrooms. Forster’s story warned of the downside—technology making people lonely, disconnected, and dependent on machines. Even as remote work offers flexibility, it blurs the line between work and home in ways that can be exhausting. Forster’s early warnings about social isolation are more relevant than ever in the digital age.
I, Robot by Isaac Asimov (1950): AI, Robotics, and Ethical Challenges
Isaac Asimov’s *I, Robot* is a cornerstone for anyone fascinated by artificial intelligence. He invented the famous “Three Laws of Robotics” and filled his stories with robots that think, feel, and sometimes rebel. Today, AI is everywhere: chatbots like ChatGPT answer questions, robots like Boston Dynamics’ Atlas walk, run, and even dance. As these machines get smarter, the ethical dilemmas Asimov predicted—like bias, safety, and job loss—are front-page news. Organizations such as OpenAI are leading discussions on AI ethics, trying to balance innovation with responsibility. Asimov’s blend of imagination and realism still shapes how we talk about, build, and worry about intelligent machines.
Besides founding Festivaltopia, Luca is the co founder of trib, an art and fashion collectiv you find on several regional events and online. Also he is part of the management board at HORiZONTE, a group travel provider in Germany.
