The phrase All Tomorrows evokes a universe of possibilities, a chilling yet fascinating exploration of what might become of humanity across eons of evolutionary change. While the term itself has become a touchstone in speculative fiction, it connects to a rich tapestry of works that explore themes of transformation, horror, art, and music. This journey begins with the seminal work that popularized the concept and branches out into its myriad influences and related creations.
The Core: All Tomorrows and Its Speculative Kin
At the heart of this cultural web is All Tomorrows: The Myriad Species and Mixed Fortunes of Man by C.M. Kosemen (writing as Nemo Ramjet). This online book, later published physically, is a foundational text of biological fiction and evolutionary horror. It presents a future history where humanity is genetically engineered by alien overlords into bizarre new forms, exploring themes of identity, resilience, and cosmic indifference. Its stark illustrations and profound narrative have cemented its status as a modern classic of cosmic horror.
Kosemen is also known for All Yesterdays: Unique and Speculative Views of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals, a revolutionary paleoart book that challenges conventional depictions of dinosaurs. Together, these works form twin pillars of speculative biology, looking both backward and forward in time. For a deeper analysis of their connection, the blog post All Yesterdays vs. All Tomorrows: Speculative Biology's Twin Masterpieces offers an excellent comparison.
Branches of Influence: Horror, Art, and Game
The existential dread and biological terror of All Tomorrows naturally resonates with other horror traditions. Its themes of incomprehensible entities and the fragility of the human form find a clear parallel in the works of H.P. Lovecraft. This connection is made explicit in adaptations like H.P. Lovecraft's The Call of Cthulhu (Manga), which visualizes cosmic dread in a graphic novel format. The blog All Tomorrows & Lovecraftian Horror delves into this fascinating crossover.
Visually, the biomechanical nightmares of All Tomorrows recall the iconic art of H.R. Giger. The compendium HR Giger. 45th Ed. is a stunning art book that showcases the biomechanical aesthetic that influenced a generation of sci-fi and horror. Exploring the link between these two visionary works is a journey into the darkest corners of creative imagination, as discussed in this dedicated guide.
The concept even infiltrates the world of tabletop role-playing games. All Flesh Must be Eaten: All Tomorrows Zombies is a supplement for the horror RPG All Flesh Must Be Eaten from Eden Studios. It allows players to confront zombie apocalypses inspired by the evolutionary horrors of Kosemen's universe, blending apocalyptic fiction with speculative biology. A full review and guide can be found here.
The Literary Spectrum: From Intimate Sagas to Cyberpunk Futures
The title "All Tomorrows" and its variants have inspired works across the literary spectrum. All the Tomorrows After represents a shift into literary fiction and emotional novel territory, often focusing on family saga and personal futures. In contrast, All Tomorrow's Parties by William Gibson is the finale of his Bridge Trilogy, a cornerstone of cyberpunk and dystopian fiction that explores technology and society on the brink. The blog offers a deep dive into Gibson's vision.
Then there's All Tomorrow's Parties: The Velvet Underground Story, a definitive music biography that captures the essence of 1960s Music, rock history, and counterculture. This shows how the phrase transcends genre, symbolizing both a speculative future and a iconic moment in cultural past.
Conclusion: The Enduring Appeal of All Tomorrows
From its origins as a shocking tale of future humanity, the concept of All Tomorrows has proven remarkably fertile. It connects the scientific curiosity of speculative biology with the visceral fear of cosmic horror, the stark beauty of biomechanical art, and the narrative possibilities of games and literature. Whether you're drawn to the original evolutionary epic, the artistic legacy of Giger, the RPG adventures of All Tomorrows Zombies, or the literary explorations in books like All Yesterday’s Papers, there is a "tomorrow" waiting to be discovered. Each related work, be it a bestseller or a cult classic, adds a new layer to the profound and unsettling question: what becomes of us in all our tomorrows?