Climate fiction shortlist: writers confront ecological collapse
Madeleine Thien and Robbie Arnott are among the authors shortlisted for the prestigious £10,000 Climate fiction prize, highlighting a surge in literary engagement with the climate crisis.
Authors grapple with future realities
The second annual prize celebrates novels that weave imaginative storytelling with the urgent realities of ecological change. This year's selection presents a diverse array of narratives, ranging from speculative fiction to reimagined mythology, all confronting the escalating impacts of a warming planet.
Thien’s The Book of Records follows a young girl’s harrowing escape from flooding in near-future China and her arrival at a migrant compound called the Sea. The novel meticulously explores the human cost of climate change alongside social injustice, interweaving personal and historical journeys across generations. A Guardian reviewer lauded it as a “rich and beautiful novel.”
Arnott’s Dusk, which features twins hunting a puma in the Tasmanian wilderness, has been described by James Bradley in the Guardian as “starkly beautiful and deeply felt.” The novel offers a compelling meditation on the precariousness of life in the face of environmental shifts.
Keshava Guha’s The Tiger’s Share, his second novel, provides a stark portrayal of sibling rivalry amidst the heavy pollution of Delhi, offering a potent commentary on environmental degradation and societal pressures. Other shortlisted titles include Awake in the Floating City by Susanna Kwan, a debut novel set in a flooded San Francisco, and Endling by Maria Reva, which juxtaposes environmental collapse with the Russia-Ukraine invasion. Hum by Helen Phillips paints a chilling picture of a near-future dominated by automated labor and toxic environments.
The judging panel, featuring prominent voices in literature and climate science, includes Arifa Akbar, chief theatre critic at the Guardian, and climate scientist Friederike Otto. The prize, funded by Climate Spring, aims to elevate climate fiction and foster a deeper understanding of these complex issues. The winner will be announced on May 27th.
The shortlisted novels demonstrate a powerful trend: a shift toward narratives that explore not just the environmental consequences of climate change, but also the profound social, political, and personal ramifications. The selection highlights how literature can illuminate the challenges and complexities of building a sustainable future.
The inaugural winner of the prize in 2024 was Abi Daré’s And So I Roar. This year's shortlisted books were published in the UK between September 1, 2024, and August 31, 2025.
The stories are not just warnings; they are explorations of resilience, adaptation, and the enduring human spirit in the face of unprecedented change. The challenge now lies in translating these fictional visions into tangible action.