The Novel of the Future

Felix Bodin’s The Novel of the Future was first published in 1834. Although it attracted little attention at the time, it has since been solidly established as a landmark work within the canon of futuristic science fiction. As a prediction of life in the second half of 20th century, The Novel of the Future scores higher in its anticipations of moral progress than technological one. Bodin is able to anticipate the importance of steam power, but his anticipations of aerial travel are based on dirigible aerostats propelled by artificial wing-power. He is on safer ground in predicting the decline of monarchies, a corresponding increase in democracy, the importance of corporations and the globalization of world politics, including taking the future role of Islam in world affairs seriously.