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Research: Stories from the Future: exploring new technology through useful fiction

Defence Science Technology Laboratory

February 28
09:30 2023

Stories From Tomorrow: exploring new technology through useful fiction

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Details

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) commissioned 2 science fiction authors, PW Singer and August Cole, to write a series of useful fiction stories inspired by potential future threats.

The fictional tales aim to spark discussion and creative insight which might challenge established thought.

Extensive research and interviews with subject-matter experts are woven into each narrative, using the art of engaging fiction-writing and artwork (within the PDF version) to deliver research-driven, non-fictitious insights.

Each story is designed to explain and explore a possible transformative technology, but the stories are fully imagined and not meant to be a prediction or reflection of the most likely future.

The events, statements, and views expressed are fictitious and should not be taken as a definitive or indicative view of, nor an endorsement by, the Ministry of Defence (MOD); even when they may be voiced in the stories by organisations or roles that are real (such as Dstl).

For MOD policy relating to the technologies discussed within the stories, see the relevant strategies and documents available on GOV.UK, in particular, as of time of writing, Global Britain in a Competitive Age: the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy.

The document is Crown-Owned Copyright (2021) and was supplied to MOD under DEFCON 703 (Edn 08/13) in accordance with Contract No. 1000156167

References

UK Government documents

UK Integrated Review

Global Strategic Trends

Future Operating Environments 2035

Integrated Operating Concept

MOD Science and Technology Strategy

References from the authors

PW Singer

August Cole

Useful Fiction

Burn-In: A Novel of the Real Robotic Revolution

Ghost Fleet: A Novel of the Next World War

Article: Microdrones, AI, and VR glasses: A sneak peek into the future of war and how well train for it

Article: Thinking the Unthinkable with Useful Fiction

Author Podcast: Realer than Real

Published 28 February 2023

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