When it comes to predicting the future, science-fiction has an pretty uneven track record. For every iPad or flip phone there’s a dozen flying cars, anthropomorphic robot maids, or a BrainJail (where people are imprisoned for rubbish laws like downloading their feelings onto computer discs). It’s now 2015 and we’ve made contact with no extraterrestrials, established zero extrasolar colonies, and built not one moon base. In the US we’re still working on building a respectable rail network!
Of course most of the best science-fiction isn’t about guessing what they future is going to be like but sometimes, as with Brave New World, it comes frighteningly close. However, not even Aldous Huxley could have predicted listicles or Doritos Loaded and similarly, George Orwell could never dream up portmanteaus as odious as “amazeballs” or “honeydick” for his lexicon of nightmarish doublespeak.
On the other hand, some predictions have come true. Just as Back the the Future II predicted, we do live in a world of never-ending film franchises, hoverboards, and Nike is working on a self-tying shoe for the benefit of those for whom velcro is too much work and slip-ons are just too sensical. If other works set in 2015 are as accurate, what else can we expect from the year 2015?
FILMS SET IN 2015
Firebird 2015 AD (1981), Back to the Future Part II (1989), Memory Run (1995), Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone (ヱヴァンゲリヲン新劇場版: 序) (2007), The 6th Day (2000), Shank (2010), Underworld: Awakening (2012), and Gatchaman (ガッチャマン) (2013).
TELEVISION SERIES SET IN 2015
Defenders of the Earth (1986), Future GPX Cyber Formula (新世紀GPX(フューチャーグランプリ)サイバーフォーミュラ) (1991), and FlashForward (2009–2010).
VIDEO GAMES SET IN 2015
The Peace Keepers (???????????) (1993), Alien Soldier (??????????) (1995), Drome Racers (2002), Soldiers of Anarchy (2002), Jetfighter 2015 (2005), Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation (????????6 ??????) (2007), Ninja Blade (2009), Ace Combat: Assault Horizon (2011), and XCOM: Enemy Unknown (2012).
WRITTEN WORKS SET IN 2015
Isaac Asimov‘s “Runaround” (1942), Robert A. Heinlein‘s I Will Fear No Evil (1970), Osamu Tezuka‘s Jetter Mars (ジェッターマルス) (1977), John B. Olsen and Randall S. Ingermanson’s The Fifth Man (2002), A. R. Gurney‘s Post Mortem (2006), and Saci Lloyd‘s The Carbon Diaries: 2015 (2009).
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Eric Brightwell is a writer, rambler, explorer, cartographer, and guerrilla gardener who is always seeking writing, speaking, traveling, and art opportunities; however, job offers must pay more than slave wages as he would rather write for pleasure than for peanuts. Brightwell’s written work has appeared in Amoeblog, diaCRITICS, and KCET Departures. His work has been featured by the American Institute of Architects, the Architecture & Design Museum, the Craft & Folk Art Museum, Form Follows Function, Los Angeles County Store,Skid Row Housing Trust, and 1650 Gallery. Art prints of his maps are available from 1650 Gallery and on other products from Cal31. Brightwell has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, Huffington Post, Los Angeles Magazine, and on Notebook on Cities and Culture. He has been a guest speaker on KCRW‘s Which Way, LA? and at Emerson College. He is currently writing a book about Los Angeles and you can follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Eric Brightwell 