Climate Fiction 101: A List of Must Read Cli-Fi
Climate fiction, also known as "cli-fi," is a rapidly growing genre of literature that explores the impact of climate change on humanity and the natural world. As the global climate crisis becomes increasingly urgent, more and more authors are turning to fiction as a way to raise awareness and inspire action.
There are several different types or categories of cli-fi, each with its own unique characteristics and themes.
Dystopian Cli-Fi: These novels often depict a future world ravaged by climate change, where humanity is struggling to survive in the face of extreme weather events, food and water shortages, and other devastating consequences of a rapidly changing planet. Examples include "The Water Knife" and "The Windup Girl" by Paolo Bacigalupi.
Utopian Cli-Fi: These novels present a more positive vision of the future, where humanity has risen to the challenge of climate change and succeeded in creating a sustainable, resilient society. Examples include "New York 2140" and "The Years of Rice and Salt" by Kim Stanley Robinson.
Climate Horror: This sub-genre combine the aspect of horror and climate change, it creates a scenario where the change is so drastic that it leads to some horrifying events. An example is "The Feed" by Nick Clark Windo.
Realistic Cli-Fi: These novels take a more grounded, realistic approach to the topic of climate change, depicting the everyday struggles of people living in a world that is gradually being impacted by rising temperatures and changing weather patterns. Examples include "Weather" by Jenny Offill and "The Water Dancer" by Ta-Nehisi Coates.
There are also many websites and resources available for readers and writers interested in cli-fi. Here are a few to check out:
This website provides news and reviews of cli-fi books and movies, as well as information about events and resources for writers.
This online database of cli-fi books, film and art aims to inform, inspire and empower young people to take action against the climate crisis.
Cli-Fi Writer: (https://clifiwriter.com/) A website run by author Dan Bloom, who coined the term "cli-fi" back in 2007, includes information on cli-fi books, authors, and resources for writers.
National Centre for Writing: (https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/resources/ccclimate-fictionclimate) they have a Climate Fiction page which provides writers a platform to showcase their work and also the readers to find books and authors related to Cli-fi.
Climate fiction is an important and growing genre that is helping to raise awareness and inspire action on the urgent issue of climate change. By exploring the potential consequences of our actions and the impact of climate change on our world, these novels can help readers to better understand the complexities of the issue and the steps we need to take to address it.