In the vast landscape of speculative fiction, few works have left as indelible a mark as All Tomorrows: The Myriad Species and Mixed Fortunes of Man. This unique book, often categorized as a work of speculative evolution and cosmic horror, presents a billion-year future history of humanity, transformed by alien intervention into a bewildering array of post-human species. Its influence extends far beyond its pages, inspiring discussions about future humanity, biological destiny, and the sheer scale of cosmic time. The core concept of All Tomorrows is a powerful one: it asks us to consider not just what we are, but what we might become across eons, for better or for worse.
The Speculative Biology Universe
The creative mind behind All Tomorrows, C.M. Kosemen (writing as Nemo Ramjet), also co-authored another landmark work: All Yesterdays: Unique and Speculative Views of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals. While All Tomorrows looks forward, All Yesterdays looks back, challenging conventional paleoart with imaginative and behaviorally complex depictions of prehistoric life. Together, these books form twin pillars of speculative biology, encouraging readers to think creatively about life forms both real and imagined. They are essential art books for anyone fascinated by the possibilities of life.
Intersections with Cosmic Horror and Art
The themes of existential dread and humanity's insignificance in All Tomorrows resonate deeply with the tradition of Lovecraftian horror. This connection is made visually explicit in adaptations like H.P. Lovecraft's The Call of Cthulhu (Manga), which translates the master's cosmic dread into a gripping graphic novel format. Similarly, the biomechanical nightmares of All Tomorrows find a kindred spirit in the work of H.R. Giger. The compendium HR Giger. 45th Ed. showcases the artist's iconic, biomechanical visions that have defined a certain aesthetic of alien horror, perfectly complementing the evolutionary terrors of Kosemen's work.
For those who want to explore the more action-oriented, apocalyptic side of these concepts, the tabletop RPG supplement All Flesh Must be Eaten: All Tomorrows Zombies from Eden Studios offers a unique twist. It merges the post-human species of All Tomorrows with the zombie survival genre, creating a fresh setting for horror RPG enthusiasts. It's a fascinating example of how one seminal idea can spawn new narratives in different media.
Literary and Cultural Echoes
The phrase "All Tomorrows" itself echoes through other literary realms. In contemporary fiction, All the Tomorrows After presents an emotional novel and family saga that, while not science fiction, explores the passage of time and personal legacy. In the realm of cyberpunk, William Gibson's All Tomorrow's Parties serves as the finale to his Bridge Trilogy, a visionary take on near-future technology and society. The title also pays homage to music history, shared with All Tomorrow's Parties: The Velvet Underground Story, a definitive music biography of the iconic 1960s counterculture band, cementing the phrase's place in rock history.
The legacy of All Tomorrows is a testament to the power of a bold, imaginative idea. It sits at a crossroads between biological fiction, evolutionary horror, and profound philosophical inquiry. Whether you're drawn to its shocking visions of future humanity, its connections to cosmic horror in manga and art, or its influence on games and other novels, the world of All Tomorrows offers a rich and unsettling universe to explore. It challenges our anthropocentric view and opens a window onto a future where the very concept of "human" has been stretched to its breaking point and beyond.