Dan Simmons · 1989Hyperion
Hyperion doesn't predict the future. It is the future.
I'm convinced Dan Simmons was a time traveler. Stay with me.
Hyperion (the book) is about a group of pilgrims traveling to Hyperion (the planet) to reach ancient structures moving backward through time and the Shrike, a nightmarish creature that'll force them to confront their own secrets and failings.
The novel is a rare example of genre fiction by an author who loves literature and ideas as much as robots and spaceships. It'll tickle your brain with literary references while respecting your literacy.
The entire narrative structure is based on The Canterbury Tales. It quotes Shakespeare. Hell, the book is named after Hyperion, John Keats's unfinished epic poem (fun fact: Keats also happens to be a character in the book!).
And here's where the time travel comes in. A civilization living 700 years in the future is somehow… us. They numb themselves with tech that's basically smartphones. Their space travel leaves everyone feeling completely misinformed and disconnected. No one knows how to solve any problem, ever. AI and humanity have a "will-they-won't-they" relationship (except it's a lot more "kill" than "marry" or "fuck").
I don't know about you, but sure feels like the past decade to me…