The concept of All Tomorrows has become a cornerstone of modern speculative fiction, captivating readers with its profound and often terrifying visions of humanity's evolutionary future. Originally a thought experiment in speculative biology, it has blossomed into a cultural touchstone, influencing everything from art books to role-playing games. At its core, All Tomorrows asks a simple, haunting question: what becomes of us in the deep time of the cosmos?
The Evolutionary Epic: All Tomorrows and Its Kin
The seminal work, All Tomorrows: The Myriad Species and Mixed Fortunes of Man, presents a billion-year narrative where humanity is reshaped by alien forces into bizarre and often tragic new forms. This book is a masterclass in evolutionary horror, blending scientific curiosity with a deep sense of cosmic dread. Its success has paved the way for related explorations. For instance, All Yesterdays: Unique and Speculative Views of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals by C.M. Kosemen and others applies a similar speculative lens to the past, challenging our rigid perceptions of prehistoric life. Together, they form twin pillars of speculative biology.
Cosmic Horror and Artistic Nightmares
The themes of All Tomorrows resonate strongly with the tradition of cosmic horror. The existential terror of being reshaped by indifferent, god-like forces is pure H.P. Lovecraft. This connection is made explicit in adaptations like H.P. Lovecraft's The Call of Cthulhu (Manga), which visualizes similar themes of insignificance and alien monstrosity. The visual aesthetic of these nightmares finds a parallel in the work of HR Giger, whose biomechanical art defined the look of alien horror. The HR Giger. 45th Ed. is an essential art book for any fan of this dark, organic-mechanical fusion, offering a deep dive into the visuals that complement the philosophical horror of works like All Tomorrows.
From Page to Game: Interactive Horrors
The compelling and horrifying scenarios of speculative evolution have naturally found a home in tabletop role-playing games. All Flesh Must be Eaten: All Tomorrows Zombies from Eden Studios is a perfect example. This supplement for the All Flesh Must Be Eaten horror RPG allows players to experience a zombie apocalypse infused with the bizarre evolutionary twists of the All Tomorrows universe. It's a brilliant fusion of survival horror and speculative fiction, proving the versatility and enduring appeal of these core concepts.
Literary and Musical Echoes
The phrase "All Tomorrows" echoes beyond its original context, appearing in titles that explore time, change, and culture. All Tomorrow's Parties concludes his Bridge Trilogy, examining a near-future saturated with technology and corporate control—a different kind of human transformation. Finally, the title finds its origin in music with All Tomorrow's Parties: The Velvet Underground Story, a definitive music biography of the iconic 1960s band that epitomized counterculture and artistic innovation.
From its roots in a chilling thought experiment about future humanity, the legacy of All Tomorrows has proliferated across genres. It invites us to look at the long arc of time with both wonder and terror, whether through the lens of biological fiction, the stark imagery of biomechanical art, the collaborative storytelling of RPGs, or the reflective prose of literary fiction. To explore the central text that started it all and discover a curated list of related works, from apocalyptic fiction to dystopian fiction, visit the dedicated page for All Tomorrows. The myriad tomorrows await, each a story of transformation, resilience, and haunting possibility.