The term All Tomorrows has evolved far beyond its initial literary origins to represent a fascinating subgenre of speculative fiction, blending evolutionary biology with cosmic horror. At its core lies C.M. Kosemen's seminal work, All Tomorrows: The Myriad Species and Mixed Fortunes of Man, a book that charts a billion-year future history of humanity, transformed by alien intervention into bizarre and often terrifying new forms. This concept of evolutionary horror—the fear of losing one's humanity not to death, but to radical, uncontrollable change—resonates deeply with fans of cosmic horror and biological fiction.
The Speculative Biology Connection
To fully appreciate All Tomorrows, one must look at its conceptual sibling, All Yesterdays: Unique and Speculative Views of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals. While All Tomorrows projects humanity into a speculative future, All Yesterdays reimagines the past, challenging rigid paleoart conventions. Together, they form the twin pillars of modern speculative biology, encouraging readers to think creatively about life's possibilities across deep time. This approach has inspired countless discussions, including detailed comparisons in blogs like All Yesterdays vs. All Tomorrows: Speculative Biology's Twin Masterpieces.
Bridging to Classic Cosmic Dread
The themes of insignificance and existential terror in All Tomorrows find a direct parallel in the works of H.P. Lovecraft. This connection is made visually stunning in H.P. Lovecraft's The Call of Cthulhu (Manga), which translates classic cosmic dread into a gripping graphic novel format. The artistic lineage of biological and mechanical horror is further explored in the magnificent art book, HR Giger. 45th Ed., whose biomechanical nightmares visually complement the evolutionary grotesqueries of Kosemen's universe. For a deep dive into this artistic crossover, the blog All Tomorrows & HR Giger: A Guide to Sci-Fi's Evolutionary & Biomechanical Nightmares is an essential read.
From Page to Game Table
The compelling horror of All Tomorrows has even crossed into the realm of tabletop gaming with All Flesh Must be Eaten: All Tomorrows Zombies. This supplement for the popular horror RPG from Eden Studios allows players to confront the monstrous, post-human species from the book in a survival-horror setting. It's a perfect example of how a rich speculative fiction concept can fuel interactive storytelling. Gamers and fans alike will find a thorough analysis in the All Tomorrows Zombies: A Sci-Fi Horror RPG Supplement Review & Guide.
The Literary Spectrum of "Tomorrow"
Interestingly, the phrase "All Tomorrows" and its variants appear across a wide literary spectrum, showcasing its evocative power. For a poignant, emotional novel exploring family and time, there's All the Tomorrows After, a work of literary fiction and a potential bestseller. In stark contrast, William Gibson's All Tomorrow's Parties concludes his iconic cyberpunk Bridge Trilogy, exploring a near-future saturated with technology and corporate intrigue. The title also anchors a key piece of music history in All Tomorrow's Parties: The Velvet Underground Story, a definitive music biography of the influential 1960s counterculture band.
Whether you're drawn to the sheer imaginative scale of All Tomorrows, the artistic horror of Giger, the interactive terror of an All Flesh Must Be Eaten campaign, or the literary and musical explorations that share its name, this conceptual universe offers a rich tapestry of ideas. It challenges our perception of humanity, time, and horror, proving that the question of "all our tomorrows" is one of science fiction's most enduring and terrifying premises.