Science fiction has long been a literary genre that blends imagination with scientific possibility. While many futuristic concepts in classic sci-fi novels once seemed far-fetched, some of them have since materialized in the real world. From artificial intelligence and space travel to surveillance and virtual reality, visionary authors have provided eerie glimpses into the future, long before technology made them possible.
Here are some of the most remarkable cases where science fiction met reality.
Jules Verne and the Submarine (1865–1870)
Books: “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea” (1870), “From the Earth to the Moon” (1865)
Jules Verne is often regarded as a pioneer of science fiction, and his works contain some of the most accurate predictions of technological advancements. In Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Verne introduced the world to the Nautilus, a fictional submarine powered by electricity. At the time of publication in 1870, submarines were rudimentary at best, and certainly not capable of the deep-sea travel described in the novel. However, modern nuclear-powered submarines, which can stay submerged for months, bear a striking resemblance to Verne’s vision.
Similarly, in From the Earth to the Moon, Verne imagined a spacecraft launching from Florida, carrying humans to the Moon. The similarities between his story and the Apollo 11 mission in 1969, including the location, weightlessness in space, and the shape of the spacecraft are uncanny. Verne’s scientific descriptions, based on the limited knowledge of space travel in the 19th century, highlight how forward-thinking his ideas were.
George Orwell and Mass Surveillance (1949)
Book: “1984”
George Orwell’s 1984 is one of the most famous dystopian novels of all time, and its most chilling prediction is the rise of mass surveillance. In Orwell’s world, the government, led by “Big Brother,” uses telescreens and hidden microphones to monitor citizens, ensuring complete control over society. At the time of writing in 1949, such widespread surveillance was a fictional nightmare.
By the early 21st century, Orwell’s dystopian vision had largely become a reality. Governments monitor digital activity, security cameras cover nearly every public space, and smartphones collect vast amounts of personal data. Countries like China have implemented facial recognition technology and social credit systems, while Western nations rely on intelligence agencies like the NSA and GCHQ to monitor communications. Who could have predicted how relevant Orwell’s privacy-eroding warning would be.
Ray Bradbury and Wireless Earbuds (1953)
Book: “Fahrenheit 451”
Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 is known for its critique of censorship and societal disconnection, but it also predicted modern wireless earbuds. In the novel, people use “seashell radios,” tiny earpieces that allow them to listen to broadcasts and music without disturbing others. In 1953, the concept of personal, wireless audio devices was unheard of, as radio and television were still dominant forms of media.
Today, AirPods, Bluetooth headphones, and smart earbuds have made private, mobile audio consumption a global phenomenon. The book also describes people being immersed in screens and shallow entertainment, much like today’s digital world dominated by streaming services, TikTok, and social media. Bradbury’s warning about a society more engaged with technology than real human connections continues to resonate.
Arthur C. Clarke and Artificial Intelligence (1968)
Book: “2001: A Space Odyssey”
Arthur C. Clarke’s 2001: A Space Odyssey introduced the world to HAL 9000, an intelligent computer capable of speech recognition, decision-making, and independent thinking. HAL’s ability to interact with astronauts, process complex data, and make autonomous choices seemed purely fictional in 1968.
Today, advanced AI-driven technologies such as Siri, Alexa, ChatGPT, and robotics are closer to Clarke’s vision than ever before. Modern AI systems can now learn from interactions, predict human behaviour, and analyze speech—capabilities that closely resemble those of HAL 9000. This also holds for NASA and private space companies like Elon Musk’s SpaceX and International Space Station (ISS).
Philip K. Dick and Predictive Policing (1956)
Book: “The Minority Report”
Philip K. Dick’s short story The Minority Report describes a world where law enforcement uses predictive policing to stop crimes before they happen. In the story, authorities use “precogs” (psychic individuals) to foresee criminal activity and arrest suspects before they commit a crime.
Current developments in AI, along with data analysis systems, have enabled the creation of predictive policing methods. However, while these technologies can forecast high-crime areas, true psychic crime prediction remains a work of fiction. Law enforcement in both the United States and the United Kingdom employ AI algorithms to process criminal data which enables them to foretell areas at risk for future criminal activities. These methods cause serious ethical dilemmas because they sustain biases through operations that violate civil liberties in ways similar to the challenges in Dick’s novel.