Future Americas Ponders Grim Futures

Editor John Helfers told SCI FI Wire that his latest anthology, Future Americas (co-edited with Martin H. Greenberg), offers a glimpse into the possible alternate futures that might befall the nation five, 10 or even 50 years from now.

"Usually I don't go for creating anthology with a soft science/sociopolitical theme like this one, but given the state of our nation today, both Marty and I really felt that not only was the time right for this sort of book, but that [also] it is an anthology that needed to be published, to explore what might be in store for the United States of America," Helfers said in an interview. "I enjoy extrapolating where present-day society might be headed and thought this would be a very interesting way to get an idea of what might be in store for us as a nation."

The idea for Future Americas came from the current state of the country: the way it appears to be fracturing along ethnic, political, religious and societal lines. "From there it was a simple matter to ask, 'What if these events were to continue to occur in years to come? ... How might our nation change as a result?' And the concept was born," Helfers said. "Sheila Gilbert and Betsy Wollheim at DAW Books liked the idea, and we're very pleased that it is coming out at this time, when our nation is at what I call a multi-lane intersection, and the events of the next five or six months will determine exactly what path America--as well as much of the rest of the world--is going to travel for at least the next four years."

The 16 stories in Future Americas cover the entire spectrum of potential futures for the country, from the legal system to government to artistic endeavor to the next civil war. "Along the way, authors also explore such societal issues [as] prejudice, racism, the class war and all manner of issues that may end up tearing this country apart in the next century," Helfers said.

-John Joseph Adams