Things to Come

Abstract

Modern industrial warfare and the subsequent emergence of a global pandemic facilitate the total collapse of contemporary social and economic structures. The resulting era of decentralized brigandage persists until a technocratic elite—comprised primarily of aviators and engineers—consolidates power to establish a unified scientific world state. This new global order prioritizes rational administration, the eradication of traditional political boundaries, and the systematic application of technology to human welfare. By the mid-21st century, the successfully reconstructed civilization attains unprecedented levels of environmental control and material abundance, yet it faces a burgeoning reactionary movement. This internal opposition, driven by aesthetic and conservative concerns, calls for a cessation of technological progress in favor of a localized, traditional human experience. The conflict culminates in the launch of a projectile for lunar exploration, positioning the drive for infinite scientific expansion against the biological desire for terrestrial stability. This trajectory suggests that the survival of the species depends upon an unceasing commitment to exploration and the mastery of the physical universe over the comforts of stasis. – AI-generated abstract.