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ohnopatrick's review against another edition
5.0
A very funny, bitter look at the technology Sci-Fi has been promising us for about a hundred years. The author writes about technology that has finally gotten here, finally arrived but failed and the prototypes that might lead into seriously cool future toys. Awesome.
gotobedmouse's review against another edition
3.0
It was interesting, and love the author's narration. However, it was written in 2006, and was out dated. Still enjoyed it!
blevins's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fun book that looks at all the fantastical elements of "the future" that was promised us in '40s/'50s sci-fi and world's fairs and what happened to those things. You know, flying cars, jetpacks, underwater hotels, ray guns, teleportation, space elevators, stuff like that. Each topic is brief and comes with illustrations and doesn't get bogged down on too much hard science as Wilson talks about how close we are to actually having one of these things in our lives. Most times we are not close but a few we have now--moving sidewalks for example.
sadhorse_kaishain's review against another edition
4.0
It read like a quicker, streamlined version of Physics of the Impossible with lots of humor thrown in, but that's not a bad thing at all. It's a quick and very enjoyable read, and my favorite Daniel Wilson book.
kristennd's review against another edition
3.0
Shorter and more blurby than I was expecting. Like blog entries, go figure. Clearly-explained science for us non-science folks, with a nice sense of humor. Fun random factoids that are handy at parties.
ubalstecha's review against another edition
5.0
Funny. I mean laugh out loud funny. May even buy a copy funny.
theartolater's review
3.0
A cool concept (writing a book about things that sci-fi writing/movies assumed would exist by now) executed somewhat poorly. It wasn't a really neat discussion as much as just a bunch of small features on things that anyone with an interest in sci-fi already knows.
psalmcat's review
3.0
Cute, fast, poppy book. Covers not just jetpacks but blimps, soldiers who never sleep, rayguns, and robots, among other things.
The future is partway here...and a long way off.
The future is partway here...and a long way off.