Leonardo da Vinci didn't invent the helicopter, but he did draw a picture of one. Throw enough hypothetical inventions and scenarios out into the world and the chances are that some of them will eventually become reality. Some were ideas waiting to happen: even our stone age ancestors could see from birds that flying was possible. Some ideas required a bit more imagination. Either way, life has imitated art. A Super-Trope to Defictionalization (deliberately doing this as part of merchandising). Compare The Red Stapler (art makes existing things more (or less) popular).