Future Narratives: Environmental History of Tomorrow

What does the future look like in the eyes of people from the past? Science fiction stories often appear in TV shows, movies, books and newspapers; news organizations constantly promote artificial intelligence, space exploration and medical innovations to extend life span; advertisements arouse public excitement about various forms of future technology; think tanks are also keen to predict which new weapons will win the next war... Stories, images and predictions are like the bricks of a building, slowly forming a grand model of future expectations: humans can control the environment and achieve unlimited growth with limited earth resources. The author reads hundreds of stories and prophecies—called "narratives"—that have been written over the centuries by scientists, writers, government officials, and other people from all walks of life. Each narrative is a small blueprint for the future. This book is a history of the future, a study of environmental dreams. In a reading experience that spans centuries, we will read familiar fables of tomorrow, as well as many forgotten stories. In the context of an era of deepening environmental crisis, these stories are relevant to the future and will continue to shape it. Ultimately, a series of explorations and facts show that only the path of sustainable development is the inevitable choice for the future. Narratives can have a huge impact on the objective world. Carl Sagan, the famous American astronomer and popular science writer, said: "Dreams are the blueprint for the future." This book is of great significance for reflecting on the past, recognizing the present, thinking about the future, and striving to build a harmonious coexistence between man and nature.