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Sci-Fi Writers of the Past Predict Life In 2012

Posted by samzenpus on from the in-the-future dept.

cylonlover writes "As part of the L, Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future award in 1987, a group of science fiction luminaries put together a text 'time capsule' of their predictions about life in the far off year of 2012. Including such names as Orson Scott Card, Robert Silverberg, Jack Williamson, Algis Budrys and Frederik Pohl, it gives us an interesting glimpse into how those living in the age before smartphones, tablets, Wi-Fi and on-demand streaming episodes of Community thought the future might turn out."

13 of 179 comments (clear)

  1. Who cares about 2012? by bjoast · · Score: 5, Funny

    In three years we will all have hoverboards!

    1. Re:Who cares about 2012? by wjousts · · Score: 4, Funny

      Now he can't wait to see the next 2 movies.

      Ahhh...it's good for kids to learn about crushing disappointment early.

  2. first by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    They probably didn't expect that people could entertain themselves with posting:

    FIRST POST !

  3. Re:Pr0n by crazyjj · · Score: 3, Funny

    Once again we learn that porn will trump all. Flying cars and moonbases are great and all, but are completely insignificant next to the power of the porn.

    --
    What political party do you join when you don't like Bible-thumpers *or* hippies?
  4. Re:Pr0n by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Mmmm, Soviet Chinese Arab Pr0n.

    Well, I'm not getting any work done today. Thanks AC.

  5. Re:Amazing! by arth1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I wonder if this is any more accurate than their predictions of the years 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, or 2010

    The predictions for 2010 were highly exaggerated, but the ones for 2010 were spot on.

  6. Re:L. Ron Hubbard and writers in the same sentence by crazyjj · · Score: 5, Funny

    Come on, Battlefield Earth was pretty good (though the movie was a lot better than the book).

    --
    What political party do you join when you don't like Bible-thumpers *or* hippies?
  7. Re:Bring a bottle? by SJHillman · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm thinking a 25 year old Scotch would be appropriate.

    Might not hurt to have it delivered by a 25 year old blonde.

  8. Re:Amazing! by crazyjj · · Score: 4, Funny

    One is an alternate universe 2010.

    --
    What political party do you join when you don't like Bible-thumpers *or* hippies?
  9. Reminds me of the standard interview question by mooingyak · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"

    My usual answer is "I used to have a great answer for this, and then five years went by."

    --
    William of Ockham had no beard. The most likely explanation is that it was chewed off by squirrels every morning.
  10. Re:Tablet Computers from 1968 by Hentes · · Score: 5, Funny

    You mean Arthur C Clark stole it after Steve Jobs invented it.

  11. Nehemiah Scudder not US president by fritsd · · Score: 1, Funny

    That prediction was of course WAY off the mark...

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-16409664
    Seriously, sometimes you Americans do scare the living crap out of us rest-of-the-worlders..

    --
    To be, or not to be: isn't that quite logical, Slashdot Beta?
  12. Re:Amazing! by Cinder6 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is that the one where Spock has a beard?

    --
    If you can't convince them, convict them.