What Is The Premise Of 'All Tomorrows'?

'All Tomorrows' is a speculative evolution saga that stretches across millions of years, exploring humanity's fragmented future after an alien race, the Qu, reshapes them into grotesque forms. The book begins with humanity's golden age of space colonization, only to be crushed by the Qu's conquest. Survivors are genetically engineered into bizarre species—some as livestock, others as ornamental beings. Over eons, these new forms evolve independently, some regaining intelligence, others devolving into mindless creatures. The narrative weaves a haunting tapestry of adaptation and loss, showing how identity and civilization morph under extreme pressures.

The later chapters reveal a galaxy where post-human descendants barely remember their origins. Some species, like the parasitic Gravitals, dominate through technology, while others, like the starfaring Asteromorphs, preserve fragments of human culture. The book's brilliance lies in its vivid, almost poetic illustrations of these creatures, making their struggles feel intimate despite cosmic timescales. It’s less a story and more a thought experiment: what survives of 'humanity' when biology and time erase everything familiar?

Imagine a cosmic horror story where humanity isn’t just defeated—it’s redesigned. 'All Tomorrows' starts with humans spreading across the stars, only for the Qu to arrive and twist them into pitiful, monstrous forms. Some become snake-like tools, others bloated living batteries. Millennia pass, and these creatures evolve anew: the Sail People build flotilla cities, the Killer Folk wage eternal wars. The book’s genius is in its details—each species feels plausible, their cultures echoing human traits warped by alien biology. It’s chilling, inventive, and weirdly beautiful.

This book is a dark love letter to evolution. After the Qu conquer humanity, they remake us like clay—some into blind cave dwellers, others into symmetrical marvels. The most haunting part isn’t the transformations but what comes after: how these new beings rebuild. The Modular People, a hive of connected organisms, invent democracy. The Symbiotes worship their insectoid partners. It’s not just body horror; it’s about resilience. Even shattered, humanity’s spirit flickers in the strangest ways.

'All Tomorrows' is evolution run wild. The Qu twist humans into absurd forms, but the real story is how these creatures adapt. The Blind Ones navigate by sonar, the Titans communicate through skin patterns. Later, the Gravitals exterminate their fleshy cousins, only to be overthrown by the Asteromorphs. The cycle of dominance and rebellion feels eerily human, even when the players are anything but. It’s a short book, but every page packs a punch.