The Year 2024 in Science Fiction: Here’s how science fiction novels and movies imagined the year 2024. Science fiction vs reality: what actually happened?
Beyond the Time Barrier [1960 American Science Fiction film]
“Beyond the Time Barrier,” a 1960 American science fiction film, offers a fascinating glimpse into the era’s imaginings of the future. Directed by Edgar G. Ulmer, a filmmaker known for his work in the genre, the movie taps into the Cold War anxieties prevalent at the time, weaving them into a narrative that explores themes of time travel, apocalypse, and the potential consequences of human actions on the planet.
The story centers around Major Bill Allison, a U.S. Air Force test pilot who, during a test flight in a Convair F-102 interceptor, inadvertently propels his aircraft into sub-orbital spaceflight [*] and finds himself in the year 2024. This future world is drastically altered from the one he knows; a deadly plague, unleashed by the unintended consequences of nuclear weapons testing in 1971, has decimated much of humanity. The survivors have retreated into a domed city called Citadel, constructed to safeguard them from the now-hostile environment outside.
Within this post-apocalyptic setting, Major Allison encounters and falls in love with a young woman from this future world. Together, they embark on a quest to find a way to send him back to his own time, hoping to prevent the catastrophic events that led to the near collapse of civilization. This plot element not only drives the narrative forward but also serves as a commentary on the era’s fears surrounding nuclear proliferation and environmental degradation.
[*] Sub-orbital spaceflight refers to the trajectory of a spacecraft that reaches outer space but lacks the velocity to stay in orbit around Earth. Instead, it ascends to space and then re-enters the atmosphere along a parabolic path, allowing for brief periods of weightlessness before returning to the ground.
“Beyond the Time Barrier” is emblematic of its time, reflecting the tension and uncertainties of the Cold War era. Despite its reliance on what might now be seen as science fiction clichés, plot inconsistencies, and less-than-stellar acting performances, the film manages to captivate with its earnest storytelling and imaginative vision of the future. Its charm lies in its straightforward, almost Twilight Zone-like approach to the genre, complete with the endearing qualities of low-budget 1960s science fiction, including rapid production (shot in just ten days) and cost-saving measures that did not, however, dampen its ambition or creativity.
Over the years, “Beyond the Time Barrier” has cultivated a cult following, with aficionados appreciating its place in the pantheon of 1960s science fiction cinema. Its depiction of the year 2024, while perhaps not prescient in the specifics, offers valuable insight into the fears and hopes of its own time, making it a noteworthy reference point for discussions on how science fiction has historically envisioned the future. As such, it stands as a classic example of the genre, capturing the imagination of its audience while providing a window into the cultural psyche of the 1960s.
- Director: Edgar G. Ulmer
- Writer: Arthur C. Pierce (original story and screenplay)
- Stars: Robert Clarke, Darlene Tompkins, Arianne Ulmer
- Genre: Classics, Drama, Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Budget: $125,000
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A Boy and His Dog [1975 American film]
“A Boy and His Dog” emerges as a distinctive narrative that merges the bleakness of post-apocalyptic survival with elements of black comedy. Directed by L.Q. Jones, a multifaceted actor turned director, and based on Harlan Ellison’s novella, this 1975 film transports its audience to a dystopian future where the remnants of humanity navigate the ruins of a world ravaged by nuclear warfare.
Set in post-nuclear war America in the year 2024, the story revolves around Vic, portrayed by a young Don Johnson, and his extraordinary companion, Blood, a telepathic dog. This unique duo traverses the perilous wasteland of the Southwestern United States, relying on their wits and Blood’s telepathic abilities to scavenge for food and avoid dangers. Their bond and survival tactics underscore a world where the lines between human and animal intelligence blur, suggesting a profound commentary on companionship and survival in the face of desolation.
The narrative takes a turn when Vic follows Quilla June Holmes into Topeka, an underground city concealed beneath the ruins of its namesake. Contrary to the bleakness of the surface world, Topeka is a bizarre reimagining of pre-nuclear war American society, complete with an artificial environment and an aesthetic that mimics rural America before the Second World War. This setting introduces a satirical critique of nostalgia and the lengths to which humanity might go to recreate a lost past, however flawed that vision might be.
The rulers of Topeka, known as the Committee, enforce a strict and ominous order within the city. Their governance includes the chilling practice of sending non-conformists to “the farm,” a euphemism for their violent elimination. Vic’s discovery that he is to be used merely as a means to impregnate women before being disposed of highlights the dark and twisted priorities of this supposedly idyllic society.
“A Boy and His Dog” stands out for its exploration of themes such as the instinct for survival, the bizarre mutations of societal norms in isolation, and the critique of a utopian ideal that masks a dystopian reality. The film’s blend of dark humor, speculative fiction, and social commentary creates a compelling and thought-provoking narrative that remains relevant as a reflection on human nature and society’s potential pathways.
As a contribution to the genre and speculation on the future, particularly the year 2024, “A Boy and His Dog” provides a stark, albeit fictional, warning of the potential consequences of nuclear conflict and the importance of questioning the values and structures of any society that emerges from the ashes. Its enduring appeal and inclusion in discussions about science fiction’s portrayal of the future underscore its significance as a cult classic and a pivotal work within the genre.
You can also watch the full movie!
Highlander II: The Quickening [1991 Science Fiction film]
The second installment in the Highlander film series, Highlander II: The Quickening is a 1991 science fiction film directed by Russell Mulcahy and starring Christopher Lambert, Virginia Madsen, Michael Ironside, and Sean Connery.
“Highlander II: The Quickening,” set in 2024, depicts a dystopian future where Earth’s ozone layer has depleted. Connor MacLeod, now mortal after winning the immortals’ battle, has created a shield to protect Earth from solar radiation, but faces criticism for the resultant perpetual darkness. The film introduces a twist, revealing immortals as aliens from Zeist, and MacLeod battles new foes sent by tyrant General Katana. Despite mixed reviews, its bold narrative choices explore themes of environmental crisis and technological ethics, earning it cult classic status.
Parable of the Sower [1993 novel]
“Parable of the Sower,” a 1993 novel by the American writer Octavia E. Butler (June 22, 1947 – February 24, 2006), is set in a dystopian future America of 2024, ravaged by climate change and socioeconomic collapse. It follows Lauren Olamina, a young woman possessing hyperempathy, a condition that makes her feel others’ pain and pleasure.
Amidst societal decay, Lauren develops a new belief system, Earthseed, aimed at adapting to change and envisioning a hopeful future among the stars. As she travels north from her destroyed community in Southern California, she gathers followers, sharing her vision of survival and resilience. Butler’s work is acclaimed for its insightful exploration of community, identity, spirituality, and humanity’s potential for adaptation and growth.
Related: The Year 2025 in Science Fiction
Past Tense [Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, 1995]
“Past Tense” is a two-part episode from the third season of the popular science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the 57th and 58th episodes overall.
When Commander Sisko (portrayed by Avery Brooks), Dr. Bashir (portrayed by Alexander Siddig, Bashir is the Chief Medical Officer of space station Deep Space Nine and the USS Defiant), and Jadzia Dax (played by Terry Farrell, though she appears to be a young woman, Jadzia lives in symbiosis with a long-lived creature, known as a symbiont, named Dax) beam down to Earth from the Defiant, an accident occurs and they materialize in San Francisco in the year 2024.
The Thirteenth Floor [1999 Science Fiction film]
The Thirteenth Floor is a 1999 science-fiction neo-noir film written and directed by Josef Rusnak and is loosely based upon Simulacron-3 (1964), a novel by the American science-fiction writer Daniel F. Galouye (11 February 1920 – 7 September 1976), and a remake of the German TV-film World on a Wire (1973).
The film stars Craig Bierko, Gretchen Mol, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Vincent D’Onofrio, and Dennis Haysbert. In 2000, The Thirteenth Floor was nominated for the Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film but lost to The Matrix.
Set in 1999 Los Angeles, the story centers around Hannon Fuller, a wealthy computer mogul who creates a virtual reality simulation of 1937 Los Angeles. Fuller’s murder while inside the simulation leads to his protégé, Douglas Hall, being the prime suspect. As Hall tries to prove his innocence, he uncovers a web of reality-bending secrets: the 1990s Los Angeles he inhabits is also a simulation, and there are multiple layers of simulated realities.
Hall’s journey intensifies when he meets Jane Fuller, Hannon’s daughter from the “real world,” aiming to shut down the VR system. Their romantic entanglement is complicated by Hall’s realization that he is a simulation modeled after Jane’s real-world husband, David, who has been manipulating the system to commit murders.
The narrative unfolds with Hall navigating through twisted revelations and attempting to escape manipulation. Ultimately, Hall’s consciousness is transferred into David’s body in the year 2024, allowing him to shut down the VR system and confront the true nature of his existence. “The Thirteenth Floor” explores themes of reality, consciousness, and the ethical implications of virtual worlds, culminating in a thought-provoking twist on perception and truth.
Related: The Year 2023 in Science Fiction
Sources
- List of films set in the future on Wikipedia
- Beyond the Time Barrier on Wikipedia
- A Boy and His Dog (1975 film) on Wikipedia
- Past Tense (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) on Wikipedia
- Highlander II: The Quickening on Wikipedia
- Past Tense (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) on Wikipedia
- The Thirteenth Floor on Wikipedia
