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Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler (1993)
Octavia E. Butler’s “Parable of the Sower” hit shelves in 1993, but its vision of 2020s America feels eerily familiar. Butler imagined a nation torn by climate disasters, rampant inequality, and the collapse of social safety nets—a world where gated communities and private security replace police. Butler’s protagonist, Lauren Olamina, navigates a society fractured by water shortages and violence, themes now reflected in real-world headlines about water crises in places like Flint, Michigan and the American West. The book’s vision of climate refugees was considered science fiction at the time, but by 2023, the United Nations reported over 20 million people displaced annually by climate-related disasters. Butler’s sharp take on political chaos and corporate power foreshadows the rise of privatized institutions and growing distrust in government, both major issues today.
The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl and C.M. Kornbluth (1952)
Published in 1952, “The Space Merchants” predicted an era where advertising rules everything and corporations overshadow governments. The story follows an ad executive in a hyper-commercialized world—where even basic necessities like water and air are sold as branded products. This dystopian satire is startlingly close to our present, with targeted digital ads, influencer marketing, and data-driven consumer manipulation. According to a 2024 Pew Research survey, 79% of Americans believe they’re constantly surveilled by companies online, echoing Pohl and Kornbluth’s warnings about privacy erosion and corporate control. The book’s vision of unchecked consumerism and environmental exploitation now reads like a playbook for the 21st century.
Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner (1968)
John Brunner’s “Stand on Zanzibar” is a whirlwind of fragmented news reports, advertisements, and character vignettes. Written in 1968, it foresaw a world overwhelmed by overpopulation, mass shootings, genetic engineering, and media saturation. The title itself references the idea that if everyone on Earth stood shoulder-to-shoulder, they’d fill the island of Zanzibar—a metaphor for our crowded planet. As of June 2025, the world population is 8.1 billion, matching Brunner’s predictions for a future grappling with resource scarcity and urban sprawl. The book’s depiction of constant, personalized news feeds resembles today’s social media scroll, and its portrayal of corporate-sponsored governments mirrors the current political influence of tech giants.
The Sheep Look Up by John Brunner (1972)
Another prescient work by John Brunner, “The Sheep Look Up” (1972), imagined an America choking on pollution, poisoned water, and deadly consumer products. Fast forward to today, and microplastics have been detected in human blood, while air quality alerts are a common occurrence in major cities. The World Health Organization reported in 2024 that 99% of the global population breathes air exceeding safe limits. Brunner’s novel predicted eco-terrorism, government inaction, and public health crises—all pressing concerns in our climate conversation. The book’s grim vision of environmental collapse now reads like a stark warning rather than wild imagination.
Jennifer Government by Max Barry (2003)
Max Barry’s “Jennifer Government” presents a world where corporations control everything—schools, police, even surnames. Written in 2003, it felt like a dark joke at the time, but now, branded content and corporate influence touch every corner of life. In 2025, private companies run public schools in several U.S. states, and sponsored content blurs the lines between journalism and advertising. Barry’s villainous mega-corporations resemble today’s tech monopolies, which have been repeatedly scrutinized by Congress for antitrust violations. The novel’s wild premise of “corporate citizenship” suddenly sounds plausible in a world where personal data is the most valuable currency.
We by Yevgeny Zamyatin (1924)
“We,” written by Yevgeny Zamyatin in 1924, is often overshadowed by Orwell’s “1984,” but its take on surveillance and conformity is just as chilling. Zamyatin imagined a glass-walled world where privacy doesn’t exist and citizens are known by numbers, not names. The rise of facial recognition technology, biometric tracking, and government surveillance programs echoes his dystopian vision. In 2023, Amnesty International raised alarms about “pervasive digital surveillance” in over 40 countries, with AI-powered monitoring becoming the norm. Zamyatin’s warnings about the loss of individuality and constant observation are more relevant than ever.
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (1985)
Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” drew from real-world theocracies and gender oppression, but its vision of reproductive rights rolled back in America seemed far-fetched in 1985. After the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision in 2022, which overturned Roe v. Wade, Atwood’s dystopia feels disturbingly present. The Guttmacher Institute reported that by 2025, 14 U.S. states had enacted near-total abortion bans. Atwood’s red-clad handmaids have become symbols of protest, and the novel’s themes of state control over women’s bodies are now at the heart of political battles across the globe.
The Iron Heel by Jack London (1908)
Jack London’s “The Iron Heel” (1908) is a little-read classic that imagined a future dominated by oligarchs and rampant inequality. London’s “Oligarchy” suppresses labor movements, censors information, and creates a permanent underclass. The World Economic Forum in 2024 reported that the world’s richest 1% now own nearly 50% of global wealth, echoing London’s vision of wealth consolidation. Labor strikes and protests against gig-economy giants like Amazon and Uber put London’s century-old warnings into startling perspective. The book’s bleak vision of authoritarian capitalism is no longer just a footnote in history.
Random Acts of Senseless Violence by Jack Womack (1993)
Jack Womack’s haunting 1993 novel “Random Acts of Senseless Violence” portrays a near-future America unraveling into chaos, where violence is random, government is powerless, and social order is crumbling. The novel’s depiction of urban decay and rising crime rates finds echoes in recent U.S. statistics: the FBI’s 2024 report noted significant spikes in certain violent crimes in major cities, despite overall crime rates stabilizing elsewhere. Womack’s story of a family struggling to survive against a backdrop of economic collapse and lawlessness feels less like fiction and more like a gritty news report.
This Perfect Day by Ira Levin (1970)
Ira Levin’s “This Perfect Day” (1970) offers a vision of a world managed by a supercomputer, where everyone’s desires are predicted and managed to ensure stability. The rise of AI-driven personal assistants, algorithmic decision-making, and predictive analytics in 2025 would have seemed like magic in Levin’s time. Today, AI systems influence everything from what news we read to how healthcare is administered. A 2024 report from McKinsey noted that 70% of global companies use AI to guide decision-making. Levin’s scenario of a society engineered for maximum efficiency—at the cost of freedom—now seems eerily plausible and deeply familiar.
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.
