Flash Forward

This book describes twelve possible futures involving the natural world, changes to human society or (in nearly all cases) a combination of both. It is a tie-in to the popular podcast by Rose Eveleth, with each one substituting the radio play segments there with a graphic story which leads in to a broad-ranging essay. The emotional appeal of the strips are intended to make the issues more immediate to the reader while the text provides factual background and conversations with experts on the individual subject in ways that either approach alone cannot accomplish. Differnt artists were selected for the twelve graphic sections, either individuals or pairings, with widely differing styles and techniques to bring their visions of the future to life. I read a hardcover copy of the book, choosing it as soon as I the author was the host of the podcast which I follow regularly.

I liked how the strips made it easier to focus on the subjects, though the space limitations would sometimes require depictions of how things work in the future which are executed in a kind of shorthand I might have to puzzle over. Almost always the vision was just one possible way the issue might evolve conceivably, in a fashion which has drama and the human element in the forefront. These aren't all topics which lend themselves to consideration from two sides, but are often things which appear to be driving in one direction with our response to the conditions the thing which branches into different directions. Are the problems posed all equally likely to happen? No, I don't think so, depending on what steps we take now collectively, but some seemed both disturbingly urgent while at the same time underappreciated.

I hope this book is popular enough to lead to a second one covering more areas, whether in the same format or something else. I found this an entertaining way of making wonkish subjects accessible to those people who are going to find themselves having to make some choices during their lives.