Could sci-fi save us all? How the Ministry of Defence is working with sci-fi storytellers to brace Britain for crisis

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Science fiction writers are exploring potential futures – from artificial intelligence controlling critical decisions, to the possibilities of quantum computing and robot warfare – because understanding these scenarios is incredibly important. They’re imagining what the next hundred years might hold.

Science fiction has always explored the future, using science to envision new technologies, societies, and even life beyond Earth. But it’s more than just a fun pastime now. Experts are actually using sci-fi ideas to help Britain prepare for potential challenges over the next century.

This is due to the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), a part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD). Dstl offers specialist knowledge and analysis to ensure the UK military stays prepared for modern threats and rapidly evolving technology.

Dstl proactively plans for the future by monitoring emerging trends and potential threats and opportunities – a process called horizon-scanning. As Futures Programme Manager Sarah Herbert explains, “Dstl provides the scientific expertise that protects the UK.”

We’re focused on making the UK a leader in science and technology. This includes offering expert guidance on defense projects and military operations, anticipating future trends, and connecting government with businesses and universities.

Dstl has collaborated with author and researcher Dr. Allen Stroud and other science fiction writers to create ‘Creative Futures,’ an anthology exploring potential future crises – everything from artificial intelligence to environmental dangers and more.

Don’t go off and read 1984 and decide that that’s how security policy needs to be implemented

Stroud writes stories set roughly a century from now, a style often called ‘near future’ science fiction. In 2022, while serving as Chair of the Science Fiction Association, he was contacted by Dstl.

We brought together science fiction writers and experts from Dstl and the Ministry of Defence for discussions. They collaborated to create a possible timeline of events for the next century, exploring what those events might mean. The writers then used these ideas as inspiration for their stories.

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Herbert explains that thinking about the future can be challenging because it involves imagining things that haven’t happened yet and are highly uncertain. He believes science fiction and storytelling are valuable tools for this process, as they help people visualize potential futures, adopt the right perspective, and consider what actions we need to take today to prepare.

But how did they even begin to think about what may happen in the future?

According to Stroud, the event featured six separate talks covering five different topics. Each talk included a panel of three writers, with dedicated discussions focused on areas like Energy, Human Development, and Law and Justice.

We organized the content into distinct subjects. Three writers worked on the project, but everyone had access to all the materials. Each discussion started with a brief introductory presentation.

We started by compiling a reading list using a government report called Global Strategic Trends, gathering all relevant materials on the topic. Based on our discussions, we then created a timeline and a map to visually represent the information.

After diving deep into these conversations, I was left with some genuinely chilling visions of the future – stories that explore what the next century might hold, and frankly, they’re pretty scary.

Stroud highlighted a particularly memorable story involving a disastrous experiment with orbital mining. The story featured 100 kilograms of gold being launched from an orbital weapons platform, not into the Sahara Desert as intended, but instead hitting London and destroying the city.

The story is a clear warning, but it stemmed from conversations happening both within and outside the project itself. It was fascinating to see Stuart Hodson bring those wider discussions to life.

My first story, ‘Lay Down Your Burdens,’ features an AI designed to end wars – potentially like the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, though it’s not specifically about them. This AI achieves peace by deceiving and manipulating both sides, prioritizing the outcome over ethical considerations. I wrote it as a thought experiment, hoping to present readers with a compelling ethical dilemma surrounding the use of artificial intelligence.

Stroud explains that science fiction writers faced a unique challenge: creating stories grounded in a specific time period while remaining broadly relevant. Essentially, they needed to write about events in a way that could resonate and make sense even in different situations or contexts.

The future might not unfold precisely as depicted in the story, but the story’s underlying lessons, ideas, and themes can be relevant in many different situations.

Herbert believes these stories are valuable because they prompt important discussions about emerging technologies like quantum technology. He asks questions like, what happens when everyone has the same technological capabilities and innovation stalls? He emphasizes that the purpose isn’t to foresee the future, but rather to explore different possibilities and challenge our current ways of thinking.

There are already examples of these processes successfully predicting the future, too.

According to Stroud, in 2022 we were analyzing Venezuela and noticed its significant, largely unused oil and gas reserves. We predicted that as these resources become more scarce globally, Venezuela could face problems and potential instability.

We didn’t foresee the specific outcome, but we had recognized the key issues and several other contributing factors. We were able to do this because we had the opportunity to discuss and consider them carefully.

He stresses that the techniques used in Creative Futures aren’t meant to replace traditional statistical analysis, but rather to enhance it. The goal is to combine data and probability to inform better decision-making.

If you want to explore the potential effects of a decision, one approach is to ask a science fiction writer to create a story and characters that experience those consequences firsthand.

He cautions against using fictional stories as blueprints for real-world action. He specifically warns people not to base security policies on dystopian novels like 1984, suggesting that doing so would be a mistake for years to come.

Stroud also emphasizes that science fiction writers have a duty to consider the impact of their work, especially when depicting future problems. He cautions against the easy trope of portraying AI as a single, all-powerful intelligence intent on destroying humanity.

We’re all on the side of trying to make humanity better

He shared some of his favorite science fiction shows, explaining that “The Expanse” offers a compelling vision of near-future space exploration. He praised “Foundation” as a visually updated and engaging adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s classic novels, and noted that “For All Mankind” presents a fascinating alternate history that feels surprisingly relevant to today’s world.

I actually enjoy Westworld more when it moves beyond the park itself and focuses on the world outside – the society people inhabit. It also explores interesting ideas about using AI to predict the future.

Considering everything, is it possible that science fiction could actually help us prepare for and overcome future challenges? It’s certainly not an impossible idea.

According to Herbert, if someone discovers something noteworthy, crafts a compelling narrative around it, and successfully gains the attention of a key decision-maker, action is possible.

Stroud explains that when making important decisions, policymakers should consider both data showing the overall impact and the personal stories of individuals who will be affected. Understanding how real people will experience the consequences is crucial.

Imagine there’s a flood. When deciding how to help a town, the information you have at the moment is what will guide your choice. It doesn’t matter if that information is data showing the impact of your actions, or a compelling story illustrating how people’s lives will improve – what’s important is that both types of information work together to support your decision.

With global events becoming more unstable and environmental problems worsening, it’s natural to wonder if there’s any reason for hope. Stroud believes there is, and points to one key factor.

Ultimately, we all want to improve life for everyone, and that’s definitely the goal with the Creative Futures project, he explained.

Despite our different backgrounds – whether we had a military history or not, or leaned politically left or right – we all shared a common goal: to improve the lives of people everywhere.

Creative Futures (Beyond and Within) is available to buy now.

Authors

Louise GriffinSci-Fi and Fantasy Editor

Louise Griffin edits the Sci-Fi & Fantasy section at TopMob, where she writes about popular franchises like Doctor Who, Star Wars, Marvel, House of the Dragon, and Good Omens. Before joining TopMob, she was a Senior Entertainment Reporter at Metro and holds a degree in English Literature.

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2026-04-09 10:06