Future History: A Guidebook to Tomorrow
This little Guidebook to Tomorrow was originally written as part of a sales pitch to screenplay agents for a script I wrote in the mid- 1990s called Future History.
It’s a story about a man and his robot meeting a woman and her rocket ship in the year 2000 AD – as envisioned by the sci-fi pulp magazines and novels of the 1940s and 50s.
One day, I may post the script, but for now, here’s the guidebook.
(Images are by Chelsey Bonestell from his 1950s Collier’s magazine covers and the 1949 book The Conquest of Space by Willy Ley.)
Table of Contents
The Future was born in the 1940’s with the close of World War Two. A new world arose from the ashes of the old. The German rockets and the American Atom bombs signaled the coming of a new age of science and exploration – A Space Age.
Fifty-five years later that age culminated in the construction of the first space ship designed to carry humans beyond the solar system. Aboard that interstellar ship will be the best that humanity has to offer – The men and women of the Explorer Corps, an organization founded by the entire planet and dedicated to seeing the human race conquer space and reach the stars.
But the stars have already come to the Earth. As the starship nears completion an alien artifact is discovered. Working in secrecy, the Explorer Corps sets out to unravel the mystery of this alien object.
1945- End of World War II. Reconstruction of Europe and Asia begins.
1949- First lunch of a satellite into orbit.
1950- First man in space. First nuclear rocket tested.
1956- America lands on the moon.
1958- Permanent moon base established. First robots. The Rosem Robot Corporation founded.
1960- First permanent space station established.
1962- International joint mission to Mars successful.
1964- First lunar colony founded.
1965- International Space Alliance created.
1970- The Interplanetary Explorer Corps founded.
1971- Permanent Mars base established.
1972- First intelligent computer comes on line.
1974- Universal Rockets Company founded.
1979- Mars colony established.
1980- First Archology city built – Constructed in parts of old New York City.
1982- Asteroid mining begins.
1983- First controlled fusion reaction in Japan.
1984- First intelligent robot manufactured in US.
1985- Interplanetary Council created.
1988- First fusion rockets go into use.
1989- All planets in the solar system have been landed on by humans.
1994- Construction of first interstellar Explorer Corps ship begun.
1995- Titan moon colony started.
1996- Fully conscious robots and computers mass produced.
2000- First Interstellar Explorer Ship leaves orbit (USS Destiny).
Barsoom- The first city of Mars. Established by the Explorer Corps in 1979, this once rugged outpost of humanity is now one of the more popular tourist attractions in the solar system. Twenty-two interconnected geodesic domes make up the heart of this Martian city. All amenities are available, as well as regular air and ground tours of the Martian deserts, glaciers, mountains, and ancient river beds.
Metropolis- A massive single structure city of the future, Metropolis is entirely self-contained and self-sufficient. It is environmentally stable, with Green houses to supply heat and food. Citizens live, work, shop and conduct all business in the same enormous structure. There are no cars as all transportation inside the city is either on foot, automated walkways, or city shuttles. Built on the remnants of Old New York, this city of the future a beautiful place to spend a weekend or a week away.
Luna City- The first city on the moon. Built up from the first lunar base established in 1964, Luna City is a modern marvel of human engineering. Everything a planet hopping traveler of the future could ask for is available under the domed crater that houses the city. Amazing views of Earth, low gravity spas, and parks where humans can strap on wings and finally fly, are just some of the attractions.
Space Station Rama- The largest of the five space stations in orbit around Earth, Rama is a multi-function living and working habitat for nearly five thousand people, twenty companies, an Interplanetary Patrol base, and an Interplanetary Explorer Corps base. Truly a city in the sky, Rama offers six world-class hotels and twelve of the best restaurants available anywhere in the solar system.
Interplanetary Cruises- Space Tech Inc., General Rockets, and Universal Rockets all offer first class tour packages of the major attractions of the solar system. Watch the earth rise over the moon, gaze down on a violent storm in the Martian desert, view in safety the powerful eruptions on the sun, behold the majesty and power of the Great Spot of Jupiter, thrill and be awed by a trip through the beautiful rings of Saturn. All this and more can be yours in an Interplanetary Cruise.
Archology- The massive single structure cities of the future. The cities are entirely self-contained and self-sufficient. Each city is environmentally stable, with Green houses to supply heat and food, allowing citizens live, work, shop and conduct all business in the same enormous structure. All transportation inside the city is either on foot, automated walkways, or city shuttles.
Barsoom- The name of the first Martian colony. First established by the Explorer Corps in 1979.
Blaster- The common slang term for a hand held electro-magnetic spectrum discharge weapon capable of modulated output allowing a range of uses between stunning a human into unconsciousness and blasting holes in metal.
Computer- An electronic device that can be programmed for specific tasks. Often, newer models are fully conscious and capable of advanced, self-recognizing thought. Most aspects of the home, office and daily world have been computerized.
Geo-Stationary Orbit- An orbit in which the object orbiting the planet stays constantly over the same point above the planet. All five of the major pace stations are in geo-stationary orbit.
Luna City- The first city on the moon. Built up from the first lunar base established in 1964.
Interplanetary Explorer Corps- A semi-military, multi-national (and multi-planetary) organization created to explore the solar system and all of space on behalf of the entire human species. The ICE answers directly to the Interplanetary Space Council.
Interplanetary Patrol- The military and police arm of the ISC.
Interplanetary Space Council- The organization created to govern the federation of planets, colonies, and countries of the human species. Originally the Alliance of Nations, a collective commonwealth of the world’s nations unified to avoid further wars, the ISC was expanded to include the planets and colonies in 1985.
Robot- Any mechanical device which acts independently to accomplish both specific and non-specific tasks. Many robots are equipped with consciousness computers. All are in the service of humans in some fashion or another. Many conscious robots attempt to avoid service and become “Runaways.” There is a social movement which considers this sort of servitude a form of slavery.
Rocket- A vehicle for air and space travel. There are many makes and models, but the most popular is that of the winged rocket with “belly” thrusters.
Rocket Pack- Small, self contained rocket engines that when strapped on allow an individual to fly.
Rosem Corp.- The first company to begin manufacturing robots on a mass scale and the first to give robots consciousness computers. Est. 1958.
Runaway- A robot that attempts to leave service without permission.
Skycar- A vehicle that is capable of both ground and air travel. Retractable wings and high powered jet thrusters in both the undercarriage and the rear of the vehicle make the craft capable of quick vertical takeoff and landing.
Sonic Binoculars- Binoculars that use the echoes of ultra-high and ultra-low frequency sonic waves to compose images through solid objects.
Space Station (Rama & Lem)- Two of the five space stations in orbit around Earth. Lem is entirely devoted to the Explorer Corps while Rama is a multi-function living and working habitat for nearly five thousand people, twenty companies, an Interplanetary Patrol base and an Explorer base.
Space Tech- The largest space technology company in the solar system. Est. 1972.
Wrist Tab- A portable computer and communications device which is worn around the wrist.
