Brian W. Aldiss - Tomorrows Yesterdays

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Tomorrow's Yesterdays

When we look back over our century, over the years from AD 2000 to the present, 1st

January, 2099, we can see how many of our present benefits have their roots in the

twentieth century, and even earlier.

The Twenty-First Century has been a brilliant one, in contrast with its predecessor, with

war - and the greed which often inspires war - largely in abeyance. While we celebrate

its fruits, we look ahead to new challenges. And, as ever, to the unexpected - even the

unlikely.

Some developments which seemed promising in AD 2000 have not matured. The

expectation that we would have robot and android servants, for instance, is no more.

Androids were too cumbersome and energy-consuming. The first models gave off

hydroxils of a poisonous nature, and were banned. We have superceded them with

something more adaptable - our dupes.

Let us leave that topic aside for a while, in order to consider the larger socio-economic

benefits of Our Twenty-First Century.

Ambitions for closer cooperation between neighbouring countries, the striving for

longevity, and the understanding that better health is achievable though better housing,

sanitary improvements, and diet: the fulfillment of these concepts, and the abolition of

most diseases, has transformed the world in which the majority of us live. As a result,

consumerism has largely given way to contemplationism.

One thing we must expect from the future is the unexpected. Chaos Theory and

experience combine to teach us that much. No one, a century ago, could have conceived

that a handful of truly remarkable, benevolent, and charismatic individuals would arise

simultaneously, strongly to influence the course of history. Nor would those predecessors

of ours have expected the human species to turn to a mode of life so much less

dependent on technology than was theirs.

At the start of this century, which we now think of as the Age of Idealism, six men and

women came to power in the various nations that then existed, in Europe, the Americas,

Russia, Central Asia, China, and Africa. This happened between the years of 2009 and

2023, as if six Nelson Mandelas had been born. What were the odds against these six

powerful, enlightened and incorruptible people emerging at the same time? Perhaps no

greater than the odds against such leaders as Stalin, Hitler, Franco, Soekarno, and others

emerging almost simultaneously in the twentieth century. The Twentieth had the ill luck,

we the good.

The world at this time was aghast at a nuclear conflict which had broken out between

North and South Korea, practically destroying both countries and afflicting all

surrounding areas. As a result, a new world order - if possible free of national rivalries,

old grudges, and ideologies - was actively sought for.

The Six Idealists inspired the will of the people to fashion the better world. A Global

Unity Proclamation was signed in 2050, on the first day of the new year..

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Brian W. Aldiss - Tomorrows Yesterdays

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