What is Coming? A Forecast of Things after the War

In this thought‑provoking essay, the author invites listeners to step into the mind of an early‑twentieth‑century futurist who treats scientific analysis as a form of prophecy. Combining the rigor of a scientist with the imagination of a storyteller, he argues that the future is already present for those who can see it, and he uses that premise to explore what the world might look like after the war.

The work surveys a range of predictions—from faster aeroplanes and new railway links connecting distant cities, to the dawning of atomic power and shifting political borders in Europe. Some forecasts, such as the rise of aerial combat and the strategic importance of Belgium, proved remarkably prescient, while others remain intriguing conjectures. Listeners will hear a blend of confident speculation and candid self‑assessment, offering a window into the hopes and anxieties of a generation on the brink of profound change.