The concept of All Tomorrows has evolved from a singular, mind-bending work of speculative evolution into a cultural touchstone that resonates across various media. At its core, it presents a haunting vision of humanity's distant future, reshaped by alien intervention over millions of years. This narrative of forced evolution and cosmic insignificance has captivated readers, inspiring a deeper exploration into themes of biological horror, existential dread, and the fragility of the human form. The original work, All Tomorrows: The Myriad Species and Mixed Fortunes of Man, serves as the foundational text for this unique genre.
The Speculative Biology Connection: From Yesterdays to Tomorrows
The fascination with All Tomorrows is deeply intertwined with a broader interest in speculative biology. This is perfectly exemplified by its conceptual sibling, All Yesterdays: Unique and Speculative Views of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals. While All Tomorrows projects humanity into a terrifying future, All Yesterdays reimagines the past, challenging conventional paleoart with creative and plausible depictions of dinosaur behavior and appearance. Together, they form twin pillars of speculative thought—one looking back with scientific creativity, the other gazing forward with philosophical horror. This connection is explored in depth in the blog post All Yesterdays vs. All Tomorrows: Speculative Biology's Twin Masterpieces.
Cosmic Horror: A Shared Lineage with Lovecraft and Giger
The existential terror of All Tomorrows finds a natural home within the tradition of cosmic horror. The feeling that humanity is an insignificant speck in a vast, uncaring universe is a hallmark of H.P. Lovecraft's work. This thematic bridge is made visually tangible in adaptations like H.P. Lovecraft's The Call of Cthulhu (Manga), which translates similar dread into graphic form. For a direct analysis of this connection, see All Tomorrows & Lovecraftian Horror: Exploring Cosmic Dread in Manga.
Furthermore, the biomechanical and visceral transformations depicted in All Tomorrows echo the iconic art of H.R. Giger. The nightmarish fusion of flesh and machine in Giger's work provides a visual vocabulary for the evolutionary horrors described in the text. The comprehensive HR Giger. 45th Ed. is an essential companion for anyone appreciating the aesthetic roots of this evolutionary horror. The blog All Tomorrows & HR Giger: A Guide to Sci-Fi's Evolutionary & Biomechanical Nightmares delves into this fascinating intersection.
From Page to Game: All Tomorrows in Tabletop RPGs
The rich and horrifying universe of All Tomorrows has even inspired tabletop role-playing game content. The supplement All Flesh Must be Eaten: All Tomorrows Zombies for the All Flesh Must Be Eaten RPG system allows players to experience the existential threats of the All Tomorrows world firsthand. This horror RPG expansion from Eden Studios translates the cosmic and biological terror into a gameable format, proving the narrative's versatility. A detailed review and guide can be found in All Tomorrows Zombies: A Sci-Fi Horror RPG Supplement Review & Guide.
The Literary and Cultural Echoes of "Tomorrow"
The phrase "All Tomorrows" reverberates beyond speculative biology, appearing in titles that explore time, memory, and culture. All the Tomorrows After is a poignant work of literary fiction and a family saga, focusing on emotional human journeys across time—a stark, intimate contrast to the grand, species-spanning scale of the original All Tomorrows.
In the realm of cyberpunk literature, William Gibson's All Tomorrow's Parties (Bridge Trilogy Book 3) uses the phrase to title a seminal novel about technology, society, and convergence at the end of an era. Meanwhile, in music history, All Tomorrow's Parties: The Velvet Underground Story provides a definitive music biography of the iconic 1960s band that helped define counterculture and rock history. This demonstrates how the simple phrase encapsulates ideas of future anticipation across diverse creative fields.
Why All Tomorrows Endures
The enduring power of All Tomorrows lies in its unique blend of rigorous speculative science and profound philosophical horror. It forces readers to confront the impermanence of the human form and our potential place in a vast, uncaring cosmos. Its influence can be traced through related works of cosmic horror, apocalyptic and dystopian fiction, groundbreaking art books, and even interactive horror RPG experiences. Whether you are drawn to the biological fiction of C.M. Kosemen, the eerie beauty of graphic novel adaptations, or the cultural history behind the phrase itself, the world of All Tomorrows offers a deep and unsettling well of inspiration to explore. For a comprehensive explanation of its impact, check out All Tomorrows: The Evolutionary Epic That Redefined Sci-Fi.