Climate change fiction, commonly referred to as “cli-fi,” has grown in prominence as a literary genre over the past few years, particularly as the realities of climate change become more evident in our daily lives. This genre often explores the social, political, and environmental impacts of climate change through speculative or realistic narratives. Here’s a survey of notable authors and key works in the cli-fi genre up to 2022:
Margaret Atwood: Often hailed as a pioneer in this genre, Atwood’s “MaddAddam” trilogy, particularly “Oryx and Crake” (2003) and “The Year of the Flood” (2009), presents a dystopian future shaped by environmental catastrophe and genetic engineering.
Barbara Kingsolver: “Flight Behavior” (2012) is a pivotal work that skillfully intertwines the impacts of climate change with the lives of its characters, focusing on a rural community’s encounter with a colony of monarch butterflies that have been displaced by environmental changes.
Kim Stanley Robinson: Known for deeply researched and scientifically grounded narratives, Robinson’s “New York 2140” (2017) imagines a future New York City inundated by rising sea levels, exploring the societal and economic ramifications of such a world.
Paolo Bacigalupi: His novel “The Water Knife” (2015) delves into a future American Southwest ravaged by drought and water scarcity, highlighting the potential for conflict and inequality exacerbated by environmental issues.
Claire Vaye Watkins: “Gold Fame Citrus” (2015) presents a drought-stricken California, focusing on the human experience and survival in a drastically altered landscape.
Richard Powers: In “The Overstory” (2018), Powers weaves together the lives of several characters with the broader theme of trees and deforestation, presenting a compelling narrative on human interaction with nature.
Nathaniel Rich: His book “Odds Against Tomorrow” (2013) is a speculative work that portrays a New York City faced with the catastrophic consequences of climate change, exploring themes of anxiety and catastrophe.
Jenny Offill: “Weather” (2020) takes a more personal approach, focusing on the protagonist’s grappling with the everyday anxieties of living in a world facing climate crisis.
Maja Lunde: A Norwegian author, Lunde’s “The History of Bees” (2015) and “The End of the Ocean” (2017) explore the interconnectivity of humans and nature, emphasizing the long-term impacts of environmental neglect.
Omar El Akkad: “American War” (2017), while not strictly cli-fi, incorporates elements of climate change in its depiction of a second American Civil War, set against a backdrop of environmental catastrophe.