The Future Is Wild by Dougal Dixon

The Future Is Wild Reviews

• 
  David R.

  Let me start by stating that the future wildlife is imaginative: who couldn't like "Sharkopaths" or "Squibbons" or "Silver Spiders" as the product of thought exercises? But more seriously, this book is an over-the-wall exercise. The "design team" makes certain assumptions about the flow of evolution from the present to about 200 million years out, some of which are questionable, to say the least. One, is that humans somehow mysteriously vanish from Earth within the next few thousand years. The book says we (somehow) go extinct. We must be very fragile. Another is that the direction of evolution will be downhill; that progressively fewer lifeforms exist. This leads ultimately to a world populated by variants of molluscs, fish and insects. Period. That's not at all how I have understood evolution to unfold. In the end, let's call this a fun thought exercise properly extant in the realm of apocalyptic science fiction. Read it accordingly.
• 
  Campbell Rider

  thought this book was fucking gnarly when i was in like grade 4
• 
  Susan Ferguson

  A look at possible evolution in the far future beginning in 5 millions years and going on through 200 million years with several ice ages, climate changes and mass extinctions. A few species are looked at in each time span with the change in climate and continental movement. Interesting ideas these fellows have come up with - and all based on theories of evolution and possible development.
• 
  Арсен Гребенюк

  Насправді це доволі дурнувата книга, проте захоплива і гарно оформлена. Політ фантазії з поглядом у 5, 100 і 200 мільйонів років у майбутнє зі спробою уявити як би могла піти еволюція далі. Ілюстрації на початок 2000-х на висоті, а описи всілякого звіряччя виглядають цілком достовірними. Та якщо ви маєте знання з теорії еволюції вищі за шкільну програму, не розбийте собі обличчя фейспалмами. Бо "еволюція" тут - це переставляння частин тіла між різними істотами. Більше того, еволюція тут просто запущено задом наперед. І через 200 млн років отримуємо той самий палеозой з велетенськими комахами, рибами й молюсками.
  Автор по суті не вигадав нічого нового, хоча з усіх сил намагаються справити враження, ніби дуже старався. Його "Зоологія майбутнього" чи "Нові динозаври" набагато оригінальніші.
  Проте "чисто поржати" книга цілком зійде.
  
• 
  Matt M

  I loved this book. As a young child I was obsessed with the TV show version of "the future is wild" to the point of my parents banning be from watching the show because I thought everything was definitely to happen. Reading through this book again was a trip through memory lane, four years after I watch the show I still remember many of the animals and smile in recognition as I see them. Now I would say my favorite animals featured would be the ocean phantom, the gannet-whales, the rattle back and definitely the Mega squid. I could continue ranting about this book all day if I wanted.
• 
  Tom McGlynn

  An interesting accompaniment to the 2002 docufiction series (which I personally think is one of the greatest documentaries of all time, despite the slight implausibility). The book delves into several topics not discussed in the series, focusing more on the reasons for the development of new animals over millions of years into the future, which is a big plus.
  
  Very well-written, as all Dougal Dixon books are, but ultimately fails to cover much ground with the limited space the book has. This is one of, if not the single most interesting concept in all of media, so I would love to have seen the series fleshed out way more than it was in the book.
• 
  Ethan Hulbert

  Very fun book, very creative. Shows what may be in one out of millions of possible timelines. Great to encourage thought.
• 
  j4hn

  Super Buch nur leider sehr kurz
• 
  Julian Meynell

  This book is a companion piece to the television series of the same name. It is a work of fictional zoology which is a genre invented by Dougal Dixon. I have read all of Dixon's earlier work in this genre. The book looks ahead 5 million years, 100 million years and 200 million years. It covers four environments from each era and looks at about three creatures from each environment. In this is parallels the TV show exactly.
  
  It is not clear to me how much input Dixon had on the creature designs in the TV show, but they certainly feel like his work. The book is quite light and is most suitable for chidren. It is not as good as the Television show in my opinion. I think that it makes more sense to just watch the TV show which is available on youtube. The big problem with the book is the art, which are stills from the TV show. The TV show's computer animation was quite primitive. In the book this is very noticeable. The book does not have the magic of the earlier books because of poor art. One plus from the show is that while the TV show was quite slow paced everything here is condensed so it is a quick and easy read.
  
  As to the content, the inventiveness of the animals is very well done. My favorite is the Phantoms, but the whole thing is very inventive. While some of it is about convergent evolution, there are some utterly unique and very plausible creature concepts. In this it is the best of the alternative zoology books. I found it a bit of a downer that almost all vertebrates go extinct, but perhaps I am biased because I am also a vertebrate.
  
  In addition, it is also very good at teaching why things evolve. A child reading it will learn about adaptive radiation, the roll of mass extinctions, and so on.
  
  Its a wonderful flight of fancy and educational, but the presentation is lacking.
• 
  Julia

  This is a fun look at what some scientists and artists imagine the world’s flora, fauna and natural environment might be like 5 million, 100 million and 200 million years from now, under the assumption that human beings have become extinct.
  
  At first glance, the creatures seem to be mere fanciful products of a vivid imagination, some well-suited for a good science fiction tale. However, the authors explain how each is actually based on reasonable evolutionary changes according to what we currently know about the history and evolution of today’s living species. There is also a companion DVD series available for this book.
• 
  Pa

  This is an imaginative story of what life might be like 5, 100, and 200 million years in the future. Based on reasonable assumptions of continued continental drift, associated climate change, etc.
  Not to be taken too seriously, but an interesting (and sometimes amusing) read.
• 
  Apostate

  Though I like Dixon a lot as an illustrator & author, these types of books are rarely as good as the TV series/movies upon which they are based. This volume was an so-so follow up of the series (specials?) 'The Future Is Wild' - I felt the critters looked extremely good but not very plausible.