Some books didn’t just tell great stories—they foresaw the future. From The Circle to The Power, explore five books that predicted the future with shocking accuracy.
When Fiction Becomes Reality
What if a novel you read today becomes tomorrow’s reality? Some authors have an uncanny ability to predict technological breakthroughs, societal shifts, and even global crises before they happen. These aren’t just coincidences—many of these books reflect deep insights into human behavior, technology, and power structures.
Here are five modern books that predicted the future in ways that feel almost surreal today.
1. The Circle by Dave Eggers (Published 2013) – The Social Media Surveillance State
Before TikTok, Instagram Reels, and AI-driven content recommendation took over our lives, The Circle imagined a world where privacy is dead, and every moment is monitored.
Predicted Future Events:
- The rise of corporate-controlled social media monopolies
- The normalization of constant surveillance and data tracking
- Social media replacing real human interaction.
Reality Check:
From China’s social credit system to corporations tracking every digital move, The Circle eerily captured the dark side of social connectivity.
2. The Power by Naomi Alderman (Published 2016) – A Global Gender Shift
Alderman’s sci-fi novel imagined a world where women develop the ability to generate electrical energy, flipping traditional power dynamics overnight. While we may not have superpowers, the themes of gender shifts, power struggles, and movements for equality are incredibly relevant.
Predicted Future Events:
- A global reckoning of gender roles in politics, business, and media
- The rise of female-led movements and leadership
- The societal reaction to a shift in traditional power dynamics
Reality Check:
The book anticipated the #MeToo movement and a new wave of female empowerment worldwide, showing how rapid cultural shifts can reshape history.
3. The Every by Dave Eggers (Published 2021) – AI, Algorithms, and Manipulative Tech
A follow-up to The Circle, The Every dives deeper into how AI and predictive technology influence human behaviors without people even realizing it.
Predicted Future Events:
- AI influencing what we read, buy, and believe
- Tech companies using subtle psychological manipulation
- The idea that “free will” is just an illusion online
Reality Check:
With AI-driven algorithms shaping news feeds, e-commerce, and even relationships, The Every feels like a roadmap for Big Tech’s unspoken agenda.
4. The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson (Published 2020) – Climate Change and Global Crisis
This novel doesn’t just predict climate change—it outlines exactly how global governments, corporations, and people would respond to it.
Predicted Future Events:
- Increasing climate disasters like wildfires, floods, and heatwaves
- The rise of climate activism and eco-terrorism
- Governments using geoengineering and drastic policies to combat climate issues
Reality Check:
From the record-breaking heatwaves of 2023 to global climate protests, Robinson’s vision is unfolding in real time.
5. Red Clocks by Leni Zumas (Published 2018) – The Future of Women’s Rights
Before Roe v. Wade was overturned in the U.S., Red Clocks imagined a world where abortion and reproductive rights are criminalized.
Predicted Future Events:
- The rollback of women’s reproductive freedoms
- Legal and social battles over bodily autonomy
- The rise of underground networks for safe procedures
Reality Check:
With the real-life changes in reproductive laws, this book became more than just fiction—it became a terrifying glimpse into reality.
Final Thought: Books That Predicted the Future Aren’t Just Fiction
These books that predicted the future weren’t just imaginative—they were insightful. Whether warning us about Big Tech, AI, climate change, or shifting power dynamics, these novels show that sometimes, fiction isn’t predicting the future—it’s just seeing it before the rest of us do.
