Future Fictions Lab : Reverse-Engineering Tomorrow

Future Center Ventures, Miquela Bonferroni, Mark M. Whelan,
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Science Fiction
  • Updated Monthly

Join Data Scientist Miquela Bonferroni and Futurist Liam O´Farrell to discuss Future Center´s methodology in the Future Fictions Lab – where we dissect science fiction books, films, and worlds to extract actionable insights for tomorrow’s business, tech, and society. Learn the tools to turn speculative fiction into a competitive advantage, one scenario at a time. Inspired by the book How to Future Forecast with Science Fiction’ by Mark M. Whelan.

  1. 4d ago

    Scenario Planning: A Field Guide to the Future

    This guide explores scenario planning as a vital tool for organizations to navigate an unpredictable future by preparing for multiple potential outcomes rather than relying on single-point forecasts. The author uses diverse case studies, such as the collapse of Swissair and the rise of digital media, to illustrate how companies often fail when they ignore disruptive trends or fall into the trap of linear extrapolation. By identifying driving forces like shifting demographics, technological leaps, and economic volatility, planners can construct "what-if" narratives to stress-test their strategies. The text highlights how black swan events, including the 9/11 attacks and natural disasters, fundamentally reshape industries like tourism and aviation. Practical exercises, such as the scenario matrix, are presented to help leaders visualize everything from the future of higher education to the evolution of global banking. Ultimately, the source emphasizes that success depends on a proactive mindset that identifies vulnerabilities before they lead to catastrophic failure.

  2. 5d ago

    Scenario Planning: A Field Guide to the Future

    This guide explores scenario planning as a vital tool for navigating an unpredictable future. By moving beyond simple mathematical extrapolation, organizations can visualize diverse outcomes based on driving forces like technology, demographics, and shifting social values. The text uses case studies—ranging from the collapse of Swissair to the "black swan" of the 2011 tsunami—to illustrate how failing to anticipate disruptive change can be fatal. Conversely, it provides a step-by-step framework for building scenario matrices and "day-in-the-life" vignettes to test strategy. Ultimately, the author emphasizes that preparing for multiple possibilities helps leaders identify hidden vulnerabilities and seize emerging opportunities. This proactive mindset is presented as essential for everything from national security to personal financial planning.

  3. Oct 15

    2034__The_Next_World_War

    The provided text contains excerpts from the speculative thriller 2034: A Novel of the Next World War, which depicts a terrifyingly plausible global conflict triggered by a naval skirmish in the South China Sea. The narrative follows several key figures, including Captain Sarah Hunt, an American naval commander, and Sandy Chowdhury, a White House staffer with family ties to India. As the story unfolds, a series of massive cyberattacks and tactical nuclear strikes cripple the United States, leading to the destruction of cities like San Diego and Galveston. Amidst the chaos, international players like China, Russia, Iran, and a rising India jockey for power, ultimately reshaping the global world order. The book serves as a grim warning about the fragility of modern technology and the potential for rapid military escalation to cause unprecedented human loss. Through the eyes of its diverse characters, the authors examine the high personal and political costs of a war that signals the end of American exceptionalism.

  4. Oct 15

    2034 Hijacked_F-35s_and_Blinded_Destroyers.

    The provided text contains excerpts from the speculative thriller 2034: A Novel of the Next World War, which depicts a terrifyingly plausible global conflict triggered by a naval skirmish in the South China Sea. The narrative follows several key figures, including Captain Sarah Hunt, an American naval commander, and Sandy Chowdhury, a White House staffer with family ties to India. As the story unfolds, a series of massive cyberattacks and tactical nuclear strikes cripple the United States, leading to the destruction of cities like San Diego and Galveston. Amidst the chaos, international players like China, Russia, Iran, and a rising India jockey for power, ultimately reshaping the global world order. The book serves as a grim warning about the fragility of modern technology and the potential for rapid military escalation to cause unprecedented human loss. Through the eyes of its diverse characters, the authors examine the high personal and political costs of a war that signals the end of American exceptionalism.

  5. Oct 12

    Stanislaw Lem´s Deepfake Chemical Dystopia

    The Futurological Congress by Stanislaw Lem follows the memoirist Ijon Tichy as he attends a chaotic World Futurological Conference in Costa Rica. The gathering devolves into total societal collapse and violent revolution amid overpopulation debates and widespread psychotropic drug contamination in the city's water supply. Tichy and other survivors navigate hallucinogenic chaos, escaping underground before finally fleeing the war-torn city using rocket-powered jump holsters.

  6. Oct 8

    The future declassified. Megatrends That Will Undo The World

    Mathew Burrows’ 2014 book, The Future, Declassified, investigates the structural shifts and megatrends poised to redefine the global landscape. The author highlights the rise of individual empowerment, where technology allows single actors to exert influence once reserved for nation-states. Through a mix of strategic analysis and narrative scenarios, the text explores how advancements in biotechnology, robotics, and artificial intelligence present both economic opportunities and existential risks. Burrows examines the specific challenges facing major powers like China, Russia, and the United States as they navigate demographic changes and resource scarcity. Ultimately, the work serves as a call for long-range planning to prevent global instability caused by rapid technological and social fragmentation.

  7. Oct 8

    The Future, Declassified

    Mathew Burrows’ 2014 book, The Future, Declassified, investigates the structural shifts and megatrends poised to redefine the global landscape. The author highlights the rise of individual empowerment, where technology allows single actors to exert influence once reserved for nation-states. Through a mix of strategic analysis and narrative scenarios, the text explores how advancements in biotechnology, robotics, and artificial intelligence present both economic opportunities and existential risks. Burrows examines the specific challenges facing major powers like China, Russia, and the United States as they navigate demographic changes and resource scarcity. Ultimately, the work serves as a call for long-range planning to prevent global instability caused by rapid technological and social fragmentation.

  8. Oct 1

    The Forever War

    This collection of excerpts centers on Joe Haldeman’s iconic military science fiction novel, The Forever War, and its exploration of the alienating nature of combat. The text includes a foreword by John Scalzi and an author’s note explaining how Haldeman’s own service in the Vietnam War shaped the narrative's themes of social displacement and psychological trauma. Following the protagonist, Mandella, the story details rigorous training on harsh planets and brutal skirmishes with the Taurans, highlighting how time dilation causes soldiers to become strangers to an Earth that evolves rapidly in their absence. Later passages describe a post-war society where heterosexuality is considered a dysfunction and the conflict is ultimately revealed to be a meaningless misunderstanding. Finally, the excerpts conclude with biographical information and personal photographs from Haldeman’s life, cementing the link between his real-world experiences and his celebrated fictional work.

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About

Join Data Scientist Miquela Bonferroni and Futurist Liam O´Farrell to discuss Future Center´s methodology in the Future Fictions Lab – where we dissect science fiction books, films, and worlds to extract actionable insights for tomorrow’s business, tech, and society. Learn the tools to turn speculative fiction into a competitive advantage, one scenario at a time. Inspired by the book How to Future Forecast with Science Fiction’ by Mark M. Whelan.

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