I have come across the opinion of an internet raconteur that, when it comes to futurological predictions from science fiction writers, that, from the viewpoint in hindsight as of 1997 AD, the S.F. writer Robert Anson Heinlein’s predictions for 2000 AD were laughably inaccurate.
Heinlein’s made his predictions first in the 1950 magazine article “Pandora’s Box.” (Fifty years.) He penned postscripts for an amended version for 1966 entitled “Where To?” (Thirty-four years.) And, finally, published an amended version for 1980 for “Expanded Universe.” (Twenty years.)
This proposition that these predictions are so very inaccurate is one to which I cannot agree. My own humble assessment is that Mr. Heinlein’s predictions were, on the whole, both bold and accurate; and even when inaccurate, were understandably so, that is, a reasonable guess even if off the mark, or, in other words, wrong but nowise laughably wrong.
Let us therefore comb through these predictions in order.
I rate on the following scale:
A = Bull’s-eye accurate;
B = Accurate, but not a bull’s-eye, where the opposite of what he predicted would nonetheless seem absurd;
C = Close miss, maybe “nicked the edge”;
D = Clear miss; the arrow flew into the stands, and by accident killed the princess.
There are twenty predictions in all. Under each number, the first paragraph of bold text is the original prophecy, as given in the 1950 magazine article “Pandora’s Box” by the.
The first indented paragraph after this gives the postscripts from his amended version for 1966, “Where To?“
Lastly come the afterthoughts for the 1980 version, as collected in “Expanded Universe.”
My text is plain: Mr. Heinlein’s is in bold font.