Films from the Future: The Technology and Morality of Sci-Fi Movies

by Andrew Maynard

Overview

Hard Science Fiction Films that Predict Future Technology

“As the breakneck advance of technology takes us into a world that is both exciting and menacing, sci-fi films give us an inkling of what is to come, and what we should avoid.” —Seth Shostak, senior astronomer at the SETI Institute, and host of Big Picture Science

#1 Best Seller in Nanotechnology, Computers & Technology, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Mechanical Engineering, and Robotics & Automation, Cybernetics, and Experiments & Projects

Dr. Andrew Maynard, physicist and leading expert on socially responsible development of emerging and converging technologies, examines hard science fiction movies and brings them to life.

Science and technology are radically changing our world. Films from the Future is an essential guide to navigating a future dominated by complex and powerful new technologies. The jump from room-filling processors to pocket-size super computers is just the beginning. Artificial intelligence, gene manipulation, cloning, and inter-planet travel are all ideas that seemed like fairy tales but a few years ago. And now their possibility is very much here. But are we ready to handle these advances? As Maynard explains, “Viewed in the right way―and with a good dose of critical thinking―science fiction movies can help us think about and prepare for the social consequences of technologies we don’t yet have, but that are coming faster than we imagine.”

Dr. Maynard looks at twelve sci-fi movies and takes us on a journey through the worlds of biological and genetic manipulation, human enhancement, cyber technologies, and nanotechnology. Gain a broader understanding of the complex relationship between science and society. The movies include old and new, and the familiar and unfamiliar, providing a unique, entertaining, and ultimately transformative take on the power and responsibilities of emerging technologies.

Read books such as The Book of Why, The Science of Interstellar, or The Future of Humanity? Then you’ll love Films from the Future!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781633539075
Publisher:	Mango Media
Publication date:	11/15/2018
Series:	Analyzing the Future
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.60(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Andrew Maynard is a former physicist and leading expert in the responsible development of emerging and converging technologies. Over the past twenty years he has worked closely with experts from around the world on the challenges and opportunities presented by technologies ranging from nanotechnology and synthetic biology to artificial intelligence. As well as an impressive list of academic publications, Andrew writes for media platforms that include The Conversation, he maintains a blog on technology and society (2020 Science), he produces the YouTube channel Risk Bites, and he is active on Twitter as @2020science. Andrew also regularly appears on radio, and is a sought-out speaker on emerging and converging technologies.

Andrew is currently a professor in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society at Arizona State University, and Director of the ASU Risk Innovation Lab. He is a leading expert on the risks and benefits of nanotechnology, and has testified before congressional committees and served on National Academy of Sciences committees. He is actively involved with the World Economic Forum, and previously chaired the Global Agenda Council on Emerging Technologies. Andrew has a PhD in Physics from the University of Cambridge, UK.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Art imitates life, but life also imitates art. Some technologies that existed only in science fiction are now becoming real. So, it makes sense that those movies can also help anticipate ethical and social problems arising from new technologies. This book walks us through some of the most iconic films—pointing out things, with an expert eye, that most of us had missed the first time around. It makes me want to watch those movies again.” —Patrick Lin, director of the Ethics + Emerging Sciences Group at Cal Poly; co-editor of the book Robot Ethics 2.0: From Autonomous Cars to Artificial Intelligence

“Thoughtfully composed and delightful to read, Films from the Future ushers us on a whirlwind tour through decades of science fiction, shedding light on some of the most extraordinary achievements of our time. Maynard explores the incredible possibilities and dire consequences of boundless human innovation, imagination and ambition…and may just change the way you go to the movies.” —Sheril Kirshenbaum, author of The Science of Kissing and Executive Director of Science Debate

“We humans have a profound ability to imagine the world we want to live in, and the ones we don’t. And though we share these visions in movies, the strange truth is that we continually fail to build that wonderful world we can imagine. What is that chasm between imagining and creating? Andrew Maynard challenges us to walk that brave path through that thus-far uncharted countryside, and build that positive future.” —Lindy Elkins-Tanton, leader of the NASA “Psyche Mission: A Journey to a Metal World”

“With the insightful use of science fiction movies, Andrew Maynard raises some deep philosophical issues about who we are and want to be as human beings while graphically illustrating what could go badly wrong, and he raises the difficult question “Is there research that shouldn’t be done and are there technologies that shouldn’t be developed?” We may not all agree with his take on these questions but raising them is a worthy endeavor. This book is one way to spread the word and get the conversation started. It should be widely read by scientists, engineers, physicians, business and political leaders and other professionals, indeed everyone who cares about the future of humanity.” —Neal Lane, former science advisor to President Bill Clinton.

“As the breakneck advance of technology takes us into a world that is both exciting and menacing, sci-fi films give us an inkling of what is to come, and what we should avoid. Andrew Maynard explores our near-term future through the crystal ball of cinema sci-fi, and deftly shows how a seemingly frivolous film genre can guide us in shaping tomorrow’s world.” —Seth Shostak, senior astronomer at the SETI Institute, and host of Big Picture Science

“If you like science fiction, you are already studying risk: that’s the alluring premise of this highly readable book. It’s bound to get film buffs pondering philosophical quandaries posed by movies that have real analogues with the highest of moral stakes in the world today.” —Nathaniel Johnson, senior writer at Grist

“Andrew has captured the foresight of science fiction filmmaking with Films from the Future. Using clear examples of current emerging technologies to show just how accurate many of the future scenarios were in these films Andrew is able to prove just how close we are to the future we see in many of these films. Sci-fi is a mirror into the heart of our species. It is also often a self-fulfilling prophecy. Films from the Future is a perfect mix of these two ideas. It is both techno-philosophical and at the same time grounded in tangible research and foresight.” —Gray Scott, futurist and author of The Automated, Digitized, and Simulated Future

“Maynard will have you questioning the most rational assumptions, not just those featured in movies. While the future cannot be predicted from ‘exponential trends of the past,’ this book shines with hallmark traits of a bestseller.” —Darlene Cavalier, founder of SciStarter

“This marvelous book is among the most engaging and insightful that I’ve read in many years. It’s the sort of book that you keep reading because of the inherently fascinating topics that it covers—from resurrecting dinosaurs to enhancing human cognition, from mind-uploading to contacting extraterrestrial intelligences—and then before you know it, you’ve learned something crucial about emerging technologies, ethics, and the future of humanity in this infinitely strange place we call ‘the universe.’ Perhaps the single most important feature of the book is its use of fiction and storytelling to bridge the chasm between different political and religious views that often make public discussions about the ethics of technology impossible. Thus, Maynard explores—with skillful eloquence—human ingenuity through human imagination, scientific discovery through artistic expression, and our rapidly changing present through the anticipated futures of sci-fi narratives. It is for this reason especially that I hope this book will be widely read by conservatives, liberals, Christians, Muslims, and atheists alike.” —Phil Torres, author of Morality, Foresight, and Human Flourishing: An Introduction to Existential Risks

“What an unexpected and compelling combination of art and science. Using creativity, from the minds of filmmakers, to examine the potential pitfalls of technology, to show humanity a better path – pure genius!” —Danielle Feinberg, Director of Photography at Pixar

“Films from the Future takes the reader on a fascinating, thought-provoking exploration of the most compelling and confounding ideas in popular sci-fi films of the past thirty years—but with a twist! Maynard unwittingly gives us an inspiring road map for how to think creatively about solving the problems of the future and what it means to be human.” —Charlie Oliver, CEO of Tech 2025

“This is a book everyone in tech innovation should read—from inventors and investors, to developers and CEOs. Under the guise of twelve popular science fiction movies, Maynard weaves a though provoking narrative around the wonders and complexities of emerging technologies, and their responsible and beneficial development. Whether you’re curious about what the future holds, fascinated by the relationship between technology and society, or you’re simply trying to succeed as an ethical tech company, there’s something here for you.” —Cori Lathan, CEO and co-founder of AnthroTronix

“Through the lens of great sci-fi movies, Andrew Maynard explores the dramatic possibilities, ethical tensions, and unanswered philosophical dilemmas that naturally arise with the deployment of disruptive technologies. This vast territory is matched by his comprehensive understanding of technology’s promise, pitfalls and predicaments. He is deeply committed to finding pathways for responsible innovation and the creation of a meaningful future. Andrew Maynard is a guide you can trust. His wonderful feel for the issues that will engage most readers and fascinating examples are all made accessible through remarkably clear and succinct writing. If you love sci-fi and want to know more about emerging technologies, this is the book to read first, and a book to return to time and again as we all navigate an uncertain future.” —Wendell Wallach, author of A Dangerous Master and co-author of Moral Machines

Editorial Reviews

Art imitates life, but life also imitates art. Some technologies that existed only in science fiction are now becoming real. So, it makes sense that those movies can also help anticipate ethical and social problems arising from new technologies. This book walks us through some of the most iconic films—pointing out things, with an expert eye, that most of us had missed the first time around. It makes me want to watch those movies again.”
—Patrick Lin, director of the Ethics + Emerging Sciences Group at Cal Poly; co-editor of the book Robot Ethics 2.0: From Autonomous Cars to Artificial Intelligence

“Thoughtfully composed and delightful to read, Films from the Future ushers us on a whirlwind tour through decades of science fiction, shedding light on some of the most extraordinary achievements of our time. Maynard explores the incredible possibilities and dire consequences of boundless human innovation, imagination and ambition…and may just change the way you go to the movies.”
—Sheril Kirshenbaum, author of The Science of Kissing and Executive Director of Science Debate

“We humans have a profound ability to imagine the world we want to live in, and the ones we don’t. And though we share these visions in movies, the strange truth is that we continually fail to build that wonderful world we can imagine. What is that chasm between imagining and creating? Andrew Maynard challenges us to walk that brave path through that thus-far uncharted countryside, and build that positive future.”
—Lindy Elkins-Tanton, leader of the NASA “Psyche Mission: A Journey to a Metal World”

“With the insightful use of science fiction movies, Andrew Maynard raises some deep philosophical issues about who we are and want to be as human beings while graphically illustrating what could go badly wrong, and he raises the difficult question “Is there research that shouldn’t be done and are there technologies that shouldn’t be developed?” We may not all agree with his take on these questions but raising them is a worthy endeavor. This book is one way to spread the word and get the conversation started. It should be widely read by scientists, engineers, physicians, business and political leaders and other professionals, indeed everyone who cares about the future of humanity.” – Neal Lane, former science advisor to President Bill Clinton.

“As the breakneck advance of technology takes us into a world that is both exciting and menacing, sci-fi films give us an inkling of what is to come, and what we should avoid. Andrew Maynard explores our near-term future through the crystal ball of cinema sci-fi, and deftly shows how a seemingly frivolous film genre can guide us in shaping tomorrow’s world.”
—Seth Shostak, senior astronomer at the SETI Institute, and host of Big Picture Science

“If you like science fiction, you are already studying risk: that’s the alluring premise of this highly readable book. It’s bound to get film buffs pondering philosophical quandaries posed by movies that have real analogues with the highest of moral stakes in the world today.”
—Nathaniel Johnson, senior writer at Grist

“Andrew has captured the foresight of science fiction filmmaking with Films from the Future. Using clear examples of current emerging technologies to show just how accurate many of the future scenarios were in these films Andrew is able to prove just how close we are to the future we see in many of these films. Sci-fi is a mirror into the heart of our species. It is also often a self-fulfilling prophecy. Films from the Future is a perfect mix of these two ideas. It is both techno-philosophical and at the same time grounded in tangible research and foresight.”
—Gray Scott, futurist and author of The Automated, Digitized, and Simulated Future

“Maynard will have you questioning the most rational assumptions, not just those featured in movies. While the future cannot be predicted from ‘exponential trends of the past,’ this book shines with hallmark traits of a bestseller.”
—Darlene Cavalier, founder of SciStarter

“This marvelous book is among the most engaging and insightful that I’ve read in many years. It’s the sort of book that you keep reading because of the inherently fascinating topics that it covers—from resurrecting dinosaurs to enhancing human cognition, from mind-uploading to contacting extraterrestrial intelligences—and then before you know it, you’ve learned something crucial about emerging technologies, ethics, and the future of humanity in this infinitely strange place we call ‘the universe.’ Perhaps the single most important feature of the book is its use of fiction and storytelling to bridge the chasm between different political and religious views that often make public discussions about the ethics of technology impossible. Thus, Maynard explores—with skillful eloquence—human ingenuity through human imagination, scientific discovery through artistic expression, and our rapidly changing present through the anticipated futures of sci-fi narratives. It is for this reason especially that I hope this book will be widely read by conservatives, liberals, Christians, Muslims, and atheists alike.”
—Phil Torres, author of Morality, Foresight, and Human Flourishing: An Introduction to Existential Risks

“What an unexpected and compelling combination of art and science. Using creativity, from the minds of filmmakers, to examine the potential pitfalls of technology, to show humanity a better path – pure genius!” – Danielle Feinberg, Director of Photography at Pixar

“Films from the Future takes the reader on a fascinating, thought-provoking exploration of the most compelling and confounding ideas in popular sci-fi films of the past thirty years—but with a twist! Maynard unwittingly gives us an inspiring road map for how to think creatively about solving the problems of the future and what it means to be human.”
—Charlie Oliver, CEO of Tech 2025

From the Publisher