The term All Tomorrows has evolved from a singular, mind-bending work of speculative evolution into a conceptual touchstone for a diverse array of creative media. At its core, C.M. Kosemen's All Tomorrows: The Myriad Species and Mixed Fortunes of Man presents a billion-year future history of humanity, genetically manipulated by alien overlords into bizarre and often horrifying new forms. This foundational text doesn't just tell a story; it opens a philosophical and artistic portal into themes of identity, transformation, and cosmic indifference. Its influence ripples outward, connecting to works of paleontology, horror, art, and even music, creating a rich intertextual web for enthusiasts to explore.
The Speculative Biology Spectrum: From Yesterdays to Tomorrows
To fully appreciate the scientific imagination behind All Tomorrows, one must look at its conceptual sibling, All Yesterdays: Unique and Speculative Views of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals. Co-authored by Kosemen (under his pen name, Nemo Ramjet) with Darren Naish and John Conway, this paleoart book challenges rigid reconstructions of dinosaurs. It applies the same "speculative biology" mindset to the past that All Tomorrows applies to the future. While one deconstructs our understanding of prehistoric life, the other constructs possible futures for humanity, together forming the twin pillars of modern speculative biological thought. This fascinating comparison is explored in depth in the blog All Yesterdays vs. All Tomorrows: Speculative Biology's Twin Masterpieces.
Cosmic Horror: The Literary and Artistic Legacy
The cosmic dread permeating All Tomorrows finds a clear ancestor in the works of H.P. Lovecraft. The themes of insignificant humanity facing incomprehensible, universe-altering forces are directly parallel. This connection is made visually stunning in H.P. Lovecraft's The Call of Cthulhu (Manga), which brings Lovecraftian cosmic horror into a gripping graphic novel format. The artistic lineage of biological and technological terror is further cemented by the work of H.R. Giger. The HR Giger. 45th Ed. is an essential art book that showcases the biomechanical nightmares that have influenced everything from Alien to the visceral body horror implied in All Tomorrows. For a guided tour through this intersection, see All Tomorrows & HR Giger: A Guide to Sci-Fi's Evolutionary & Biomechanical Nightmares.
Gaming the Apocalypse: All Tomorrows in Tabletop RPGs
The concept of future humanity twisted by external forces naturally lends itself to role-playing games. All Flesh Must be Eaten: All Tomorrows Zombies is a direct crossover, a supplement for Eden Studios' popular horror RPG, All Flesh Must Be Eaten. This book allows players to experience the existential terror of the All Tomorrows universe firsthand, battling or surviving as the Star People's grotesque descendants. It's a perfect example of how a biological fiction narrative can be translated into an interactive, collaborative apocalyptic fiction experience. A comprehensive look at this adaptation can be found in the All Tomorrows Zombies: A Sci-Fi Horror RPG Supplement Review & Guide.
Literary and Musical Echoes of "Tomorrow"
The phrase "All Tomorrows" resonates beyond speculative biology. In literature, it appears in titles exploring time and consequence. All the Tomorrows After is an emotional novel and family saga that deals with personal futures, while William Gibson's All Tomorrow's Parties concludes his Bridge Trilogy, a seminal work of cyberpunk and dystopian fiction concerned with near-future technological saturation. The title itself is famously borrowed from The Velvet Underground, the iconic 1960s band that epitomized counterculture. All Tomorrow's Parties: The Velvet Underground Story is a definitive music biography chronicling their pivotal role in rock history.
The enduring power of All Tomorrows lies in its ability to act as a creative catalyst. It is more than a book review subject; it's a foundational text that invites exploration across genres—from the scientific speculation of All Yesterdays and the visceral art of Giger, to the interactive horror of RPGs and the cultural history of music. Each related work, whether it's a contemporary fiction piece like All the Fiends of Hell or a bestseller art monograph, adds a new dimension to the profound questions about evolution, identity, and time first posed by Kosemen's evolutionary epic.