In the vast landscape of speculative fiction, few works have captured the imagination and existential dread of readers quite like All Tomorrows. Originally a web-published work by C.M. Kosemen (writing as Nemo Ramjet), this illustrated story of humanity's far-future evolution—and devolution—at the hands of alien overlords has blossomed into a cult phenomenon. Its unique blend of hard science, biological horror, and profound philosophical inquiry has resonated deeply, creating ripples that extend far beyond its initial digital pages. The core narrative, now available as All Tomorrows: The Myriad Species and Mixed Fortunes of Man, serves as a cornerstone for a growing universe of related media that explores themes of transformation, memory, and cosmic insignificance.
The Speculative Biology Connection: From Yesterdays to Tomorrows
The fascination with All Tomorrows is deeply intertwined with a broader interest in speculative biology. This is perfectly exemplified by its conceptual sibling, All Yesterdays: Unique and Speculative Views of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals. Co-authored by Kosemen, this book challenges traditional paleoart by imagining dinosaurs in relaxed, mundane, or scientifically plausible but rarely-depicted behaviors. Together, these works form twin pillars: one looking back to re-imagine the past, the other looking forward to speculate on a terrifying future. They both ask the same fundamental question: how much of what we think we know about life is constrained by our own biases? For a deeper dive into this fascinating comparison, the blog post All Yesterdays vs. All Tomorrows: Speculative Biology's Twin Masterpieces offers excellent analysis.
Echoes of Cosmic Horror: From Lovecraft to Giger
The unsettling vibe of All Tomorrows is no accident; it draws from the deep well of cosmic horror. The sense of humanity being reshaped by incomprehensible, uncaring forces is pure H.P. Lovecraft. This connection is made visually explicit in adaptations like H.P. Lovecraft's The Call of Cthulhu (Manga), which translates similar themes of existential dread into graphic form. The lineage of biological and mechanical horror finds its apex in the work of H.R. Giger. The nightmarish, biomechanical forms of the "Star People" and the "Qu" in All Tomorrows feel like they could inhabit the same universe as Giger's creations. The HR Giger. 45th Ed. is a testament to this enduring aesthetic of horror. Exploring these connections is a journey in itself, as detailed in posts like All Tomorrows & Lovecraftian Horror and All Tomorrows & HR Giger: A Guide to Sci-Fi's Evolutionary & Biomechanical Nightmares.
From Page to Game: All Tomorrows in Role-Playing
The compelling and horrifying universe of All Tomorrows provides perfect fodder for tabletop role-playing games. This crossover is officially realized in All Flesh Must be Eaten: All Tomorrows Zombies, a supplement for the All Flesh Must Be Eaten horror RPG by Eden Studios. This book allows players and Game Masters to bring the post-human horrors of Kosemen's world into their games, facing off against the twisted descendants of humanity. It's a brilliant example of how a rich speculative fiction concept can expand into interactive storytelling. For gamers interested in this unique blend, the review All Tomorrows Zombies: A Sci-Fi Horror RPG Supplement Review & Guide is an essential read.
The Literary and Musical "Tomorrows"
Interestingly, the phrase "All Tomorrows" resonates in other creative spheres, creating a web of thematic links. In literature, William Gibson's cyberpunk classic All Tomorrow's Parties (Bridge Trilogy Book 3) explores a different kind of future—one of technological saturation and social fragmentation. On a more intimate scale, All Tomorrows Parties: The Velvet Underground Story - A Definitive Biography.
The enduring appeal of All Tomorrows lies in its powerful core idea: humanity is not a fixed point, but a temporary state in an uncaring cosmos. It forces us to confront questions of identity, legacy, and evolution in the most visceral way possible. From its roots in speculative biology and cosmic horror to its branches in RPGs, art books, and even music history, the world of All Tomorrows continues to expand, inviting us to ponder all our possible futures—and all our haunted yesterdays.