In the shag-carpeted, asbestos-insulated depths of 1976, Liam O’Hoolihan adjusted his pale blue polyester leisure suit and stared at his massive 25-inch Zenith console colour television. A special program, “The Dawn of the 21st Century,” was playing.

Sipping his artificial orange Tang, Liam felt a surge of techno optimism. In 50 years, humanity would surely be a race of silver-jumpsuit-wearing geniuses living in a flawless, nuclear-powered paradise. World peace would reign. World hunger would be history.

Cut to 2026. Liam is sitting on a minimalist couch that possesses the lumbar support of a concrete block. He is attempting to converse with his teenage granddaughter, Zoe, who is staring at a glowing glass rectangle.

“In my day,” Liam sneered, “Ford told us the Aerocar was imminent. We envisioned sleek sky-vessels soaring between mile-high towers, guided by flawless automated radar. Traffic jams were supposed to die with the........

© Peterborough Examiner