Climate fiction is a genre on the rise, and I’ve taken note of this increasing prevalence, especially over the past year. Simply put, climate fiction encompasses any story that deals with climate change, whether subtly or overtly. Works in this genre have historically fallen under the speculative fiction umbrella, and are shaped by the actual science of climate change and how we observe those changes in the world around us.
Climate fiction may feature stories where environmental conditions happen in the background and set the scene, plots where the characters are actively grappling with the impacts of rapid shifts in our human environment, or even events in fictional or far-futuristic worlds where climate change has had a dramatic impact.
As I mentioned in my Books that Shaped Me post, one of my favorite genres is dystopian fiction. For many years, I read works of climate fiction that would fall within this category. More recently, and as themes of climate change show up in an increasingly broad range of works (and in my real life), I’ve been on the hunt for stories that feature hopeful outcomes.
I appreciate reading climate fiction because the stories explore the impact of a changing earth on our lives, relationships, and communities. Living in the American West, I’ve been able to see firsthand the impacts of anthropogenic climate change, from severe drought (this collection of articles on the topic is excellent)—the 2012-2014 California drought was the most severe in 1200 years—to unprecedented wildfires as rising temperatures lengthen the burn season and result in more, and longer-lasting, fires. Climate fiction helps me to grapple with what these changes might mean and identify possible ways forward.
Perhaps you’ve also felt the impacts of our changing world and would like to see some reflections and potential solutions on the page. Or perhaps you simply enjoy reading speculative fiction. Regardless of what draws you to explore this genre, I hope you’ll find a new title or two on today’s list.
I’d love to hear about your favorite works of climate fiction, too: please share those titles in the comments section.
Climate fiction for beginners
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This 2017 novel by Canadian-Egyptian Omar El Akkad taught me the literary name for one of my favorite storytelling mechanisms: historiographic metafiction. American War follows Sarat, a climate refugee who was a young child at the start of the Second American Civil War. As the country battles over fossil fuels and a large number of citizens are displaced by climate change, Sarat befriends a mysterious stranger and slowly becomes radicalized. This was one of those books that stopped me in my tracks multiple times as I rolled a phrase or a sentence around in my brain, appreciating the author's lyrical and truthful language. The story felt real, true, possible, and in some elements perhaps prescient. I’d be curious to re-read it now and see how it has held up over time. Content warnings apply. More info →
Fifteen-year-old Emi Vargas is the child of heroes: her parents helped save the world during the climate crisis. But that doesn’t mean life is simple or easy in Nuuk, Greenland, where her family now lives after winning the housing lottery. When a series of assassinations coincides with Emi’s mother’s disappearance, Emi and her father Larch strike out in search of her and of answers. The Great Transition jumps between three points of view: Emi’s current day and Larch’s memories of the peak years of the climate crisis are each told in alternating first-person chapters, while her mother’s recollections of her own journey is creatively told through the lens of Emi’s oral history school project. I appreciated how this story focused on the possibility of change and solutions from grassroots efforts, its focus on mutual aid, and vision of a fragile but positive future. Content warnings apply. More info →
A story of survival, evolution, and home structured in four thematic parts, this dystopian novel follows Wanda, a child born in the midst of an unprecedented hurricane that changed Florida forever. As Wanda grows, we see a changing Florida through her eyes and adapt alongside her to this new reality. This 2022 novel was my re-entry point to reading this subgenre after taking a break during the initial years of the pandemic, and I found it to be beautifully written with a great balance of the bleak and the hopeful. More info →
The Larsen-Hall family lives the good life in Miami, where they’re wealthy and successful, until a Category 6 hurricane wipes everything away. Suddenly, with no resources and the family separated, they must adapt to a new reality in a FEMA shelter. This literary thriller feels like it would shelve nicely alongside Rumaan Alam’s Leave The World Behind, as it explores questions of privilege lost, resilience, and humanity in the face of disaster. More info →
Climate fiction ranges from the subtly hopeful to the deeply apocalyptic, and Markley’s novel definitely falls on the more depressing end of that spectrum. A slow moving tale of collapse, resistance, and the structures of power and control that shape our modern world, it follows a handful of characters across decades as they strive to adapt to and fight back against a changing world. I read this in late 2024, and was shocked by the parallels of one particular scene and the January 2025 fires that ravaged Los Angeles. This could have used a bit more editing in a few spots, but ultimately I found it a satisfying and thought provoking read. Content warnings apply. More info →
This hefty work of political climate fiction opens with a deadly heat wave in India. From there, the novel embarks on a creative exploration of what we could actually do to turn the ship of climate change, if only we were sufficiently committed, led, and willing to think outside of the proverbial box. While this book features its share of catastrophe, the reading experience was much more hopeful than I expected, and it features unique elements like chapters told from the perspective of resources/inputs (like the sun!). You may recall this title from What Should I Read Next #394: Our team’s best books of summer, where it was one of my bonus picks. It’s one of those titles I just keep coming back to and can’t stop thinking about or recommending. Content warnings apply. More info →
I have a particular soft spot for the solarpunk subgenre, which you may recognize in the works of Becky Chambers or Sarena Ulibarri, and I’d place this novel in that category. We’re taken to the floating arctic city of Qaanaaq, where much of humanity has fled following rising seas. Qaanaaq faces its share of issues—racism and class struggle, government corruption, and questions regarding the role of advanced technology have all persisted in this new climate refuge. Then one day a mysterious woman arrives in town with a killer whale and a giant polar bear. The story continues through the points of view of four individuals, each with their own unique place in society and perspective. This book kicks off with a decent amount of worldbuilding, but I found the initial investment of effort more than paid off. Content warnings apply. More info →
Fun fact: my husband and I kept bees for several years, and look forward to doing so again in the future. Any book on the theme of bees or beekeeping instantly catches my attention. In this first book in a series, we follow three beekeepers across several centuries: William, an English biologist 1852 seeking innovation; George, a U.S. beekeeper in 2007 during a time of agricultural transition; and finally Tao, who has adapted to a 2098 China without bees. As each protagonist grapples with family, loss, and change, the story invites us to consider our relationships with each other and the natural world around us. I learned about this book when it was recommended by Anne in What Should I Read Next #231, which is a great source for additional climate fiction recommendations. Translated from the Norwegian by Diane Oatley. More info →
Paolo Bacigalupi is a consistent favorite of mine. This 2015 novel explores a drought-stricken American Southwest where water is power, and those who control it will go to any ends to keep that control. Following three different perspectives—a climate refugee, a journalist, and the titular “water knife,” a gangster of sorts—this thriller paints a vivid picture of one potential future. I enjoyed the slightly different lens of a crime thriller rather than a traditional dystopian narrative. As a resident of this part of the country, it struck particularly close to home. I read this nearly a decade ago but still consider it one of my favorite climate fiction reads. More info →
This dystopian YA novel follows two Nigerian sisters, Onyii and Ify, as they each dream of a better future amidst the radiation and war-torn backdrop of their home. On Earth in 2172, climate change and nuclear catastrophe have sent the wealthy and the fortunate to space, while everyone else strives to survive in spite of ongoing wars and a forbidding environment. War Girls was inspired by the true history of the 1962 Nigerian Civil War, about which I was ignorant prior to reading this book. While some of the structure and characterizations weren’t my favorite, I’m so glad I read this fresh take on a dystopian tale from Onyebuchi. Content warnings apply. More info →
Reid, a young woman in Alberta who is infected with mysterious mind-altering fungi, must choose whether to care for her mother and community or escape to one of the final remaining climate refuges that offers a life unchanged by a changing earth. Instead, she chooses a third option, and takes a chance on a risky mission that, if successful, would secure the future for her loved ones. Set against a stark landscape, Mohamad infuses hope into this tale of community care in the midst of collapse. This novella introduced me to the Aurora Awards, an annual award for the best science fiction or fantasy from Canadian authors, which I’ll now be keeping a close eye on for future additions to my TBR list. More info →
Sherri L Smith, who you may know from her 2009 book Flygirl, offers a creative and layered dystopian tale. In Orleans (formerly New Orleans), now separated from the Outer States of America by a wall and left to fend for itself amidst a flooded landscape and Delta Fever, Fen de la Guerre finds herself in charge of an orphan and is determined to get the child to safety beyond the wall. When she encounters Daniel—a scientist with his own agenda who has entered Orleans illegally—they’ll have to work together to survive. Smith paints a vivid yet intermittently hopeful picture of what life after climate change could look like; the resilience of the earth and the underlying goodness of humanity stand out as themes in this YA novel. More info →
This story has been described as both an environmental fable and a fantasy novella, and I can add both categories to my favorites list because I loved it! When a nomadic community comes under threat from their technologically advanced neighbors, Thurava, a young herder girl, must decide if she will abandon her heritage or find a new path forward that will preserve her community. A thoughtful read with evocative touches like chapters bearing the names of constellations as known to Thurava’s people, it speaks to the threat of technology and environmental destruction while also offering a reflection on culture, community, and consumption. I discovered this fall 2024 release via past Summer Reading Guide author Sarena Ulibarri. I hope to see Teffeau at a future book event in our shared home state of New Mexico. More info →
What if the Knights of the Round Table were awoken any time Britain faced a crisis? That’s the question posed by Lee in this wry and unique spin on the Arthurian legend. We start the story as Kay, Arthur’s brother, is awoken to help save Britain once more but this time the threat isn’t Nazis or Napoleon, it's climate change, dragons awoken by fracking factories, and rising oceans. Featuring creative reimaginings of the Arthurian cast of characters from Lancelot to Morgan le Fay, I’d recommend this to anyone in search of a little levity and British humor with their climate change reading. Content warnings apply. More info →
Do you have any favorite climate fiction reads? Please share in the comments.
Holly Wielkoszewski is our What Should I Read Next Media Production Specialist. Her go-to genres are Fantasy and Sci-Fi. You can follow Holly on her Substack: A Liminal Life.
Thanks for the list. As a fan of dystopian/apocalyptic fiction, I’ve read a couple of these already. If I was going to recommend one title for the list, it would be “Gold Fame Citrus” by Claire Vaye Watkins. Set in a future bone-dry California, it has a hazy/gauzy quality which I haven’t been able to shake for years. Published in 2015, it may well have been inspired by the 2012-14 drought that you reference.
Holly Wielkoszewski says:
Oh, Joe, thanks for adding this! I read it back in 2015 and had totally forgotten about it, but you’re right, it absolutely fits in this category.
Janice says:
I would also add the YA novel The Marrow Thieves. One review states, “Dimaline takes one of the most well-known tropes in YA – the dystopia – and uses it to draw explicit parallels between the imagined horrors of a fictional future and the true historical horrors of colonialism and residential schools” and called the book “beautifully written as it is shocking and painful.” My parents and I all read this book and found it so impactful. The only time I remember my Dad and I both reading the same book.
Holly Wielkoszewski says:
I’ve been wanting to read this one for ages, Janice. Thanks for suggesting it.
Janet says:
Blue Skies by TC Boyle. Funny and disturbing, in other words classic TC.
The History of Bees caught my eye, as my family has kept bees for 5 generations. Adding to my list!
Holly Wielkoszewski says:
I hadn’t heard of Blue Skies, Janet – thanks for putting it on my radar. And 5 generations of beekeeping – that’s fantastic!
Denise says:
I especially love this list as I turn the final page of “Gliff” by Ali Smith. “Gliff” is a climate fiction dystopian novel focused on 2 siblings that the authoritarian government renders meaningless. Throw in a beautiful horse and some linguistic deep dives, I found it to be perfect book in this genre. I look forward to reading others on the list above. Thank you Holly.
Holly Wielkoszewski says:
Gliff sounds intriguing. Thanks for the recommendation, Denise.
Sandy says:
I would also add Neal Stephenson’s “Termination Shock.” I’ve read this twice.
Holly Wielkoszewski says:
This one’s been sitting on my TBR for quite awhile, Sandy. I’ll bump it up!
Sara says:
thanks for this collection! i have read both Water Knife and American War (in maybe 2018/2019) and i still think about those books …. pretty much daily. looking forward to checking out others!
Holly Wielkoszewski says:
I hope you enjoy, Sara!
Neelee Glasco says:
This is a great list! I’ve only read a couple and several were completely new to me.
Holly Wielkoszewski says:
Thanks, Neelee – I hope you find some new favorites.
Thank you for this list! They are all new titles for me. I would also add Charlotte McConaghy’s Migrations. It’s excellent.
Holly Wielkoszewski says:
I can’t wait to read her new Wild Dark Shore, too – I’ll definitely check out Migrations!
Abra says:
I’m currently reading Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler (second in the series) and highly recommend this series.
Andrea says:
I was definitely thinking of the Parable books when I read through this list. Parable of the Sower, in particular, was ahead of its time.
Holly Wielkoszewski says:
This series is so, so good.
Louisa Donovan says:
After the Flood by Kassandra Montag provides a dystopian view of climate change and political upheaval couched in a classic adventure format.
Holly Wielkoszewski says:
Louisa, I was hoping to read this one while preparing this post but it’s still been on my library holds list. I’m eager to read it soon!
Joan Smyth says:
Termination Shock by Neal Stephenson comes to mind right after Ministry for the future. Stephenson’s works are deep and wide and so very entertaining. Hopefully we readers also learn something from them!
Malvina Y says:
I would add to these Juice by Tim Winton, set in the future. A powerful comment on how we had the chance to arrest global warming but missed the moment. An environmental thriller about guerilla gardening with a Shakespearean bent is Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton.
Holly Wielkoszewski says:
Yes! I loved Birnam Wood, thanks for adding that one to this list. I can’t wait to get my hands on Juice.
Wendy Barker says:
Thanks for including some Canadian books on the list. Here’s another one to add: Greenwood by Michael Christie follows one family from 1908 to 2038 as they work with trees and forests. The last of the family is a guide on one of the few preserves of big Douglas fir trees.
Holly Wielkoszewski says:
Wendy, that sounds fascinating and is totally new to me. Thanks for sharing the recommendation!
Caroline North says:
Great list. Another one that has stuck with me is A Children’s Bible by Lydia Millet.
Holly Wielkoszewski says:
Oh, great idea, thank you Caroline. I have yet to read that one, but have heard many people speak highly of it.
Helene M Watt says:
While not dystopian, Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver fits here as well. A beautiful story.
Climate fiction is something I had never thought about but I love the idea and I will pick up a few of these to read. It is eye opening to read these type of books and imagine the possibilities of how things may play out. We are already beginning to see so many changes in the weather and real time impacts. Books offer the safety of it not being real yet!
Emily Fornof says:
What a great list! I’d love to add All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders. It’s about two childhood friends who lose touch until adulthood, where they run into one another again while they’re working to address ever increasing climate impacts but from very different perspectives (one is witch, one is an engineer). They each represent different approaches to dealing with the climate crisis, and the book grapples with the consequences of both of those choices. It came out back in 2016 and is a great genre-bending novel (which were unusual back then!). I still think about it regularly.
Claire says:
I haven’t read it yet, but All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall looks really good. The bookseller described it as a cross between Parable of the Sower and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Janice Hoaglin says:
I too loved The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton. In a somewhat similar story, Rivers by Michael Farris Smith, is also set along the southern states along the Gulf Coast, and tells of increasingly violent storms, along with those who wish to exploit anyone who appears more vulnerable
One of my most favorite books ever is The Overstory by Richard Powers. While it is not so dystopian, it is a warning about climate change.
Lynn says:
For something not dystopian, try The EarthStar Solution by Arlene Williams — a present day climate mystery.
Comments are closed.
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34 comments
Thanks for the list. As a fan of dystopian/apocalyptic fiction, I’ve read a couple of these already. If I was going to recommend one title for the list, it would be “Gold Fame Citrus” by Claire Vaye Watkins. Set in a future bone-dry California, it has a hazy/gauzy quality which I haven’t been able to shake for years. Published in 2015, it may well have been inspired by the 2012-14 drought that you reference.
Oh, Joe, thanks for adding this! I read it back in 2015 and had totally forgotten about it, but you’re right, it absolutely fits in this category.
I would also add the YA novel The Marrow Thieves. One review states, “Dimaline takes one of the most well-known tropes in YA – the dystopia – and uses it to draw explicit parallels between the imagined horrors of a fictional future and the true historical horrors of colonialism and residential schools” and called the book “beautifully written as it is shocking and painful.” My parents and I all read this book and found it so impactful. The only time I remember my Dad and I both reading the same book.
I’ve been wanting to read this one for ages, Janice. Thanks for suggesting it.
Blue Skies by TC Boyle. Funny and disturbing, in other words classic TC.
The History of Bees caught my eye, as my family has kept bees for 5 generations. Adding to my list!
I hadn’t heard of Blue Skies, Janet – thanks for putting it on my radar. And 5 generations of beekeeping – that’s fantastic!
I especially love this list as I turn the final page of “Gliff” by Ali Smith. “Gliff” is a climate fiction dystopian novel focused on 2 siblings that the authoritarian government renders meaningless. Throw in a beautiful horse and some linguistic deep dives, I found it to be perfect book in this genre. I look forward to reading others on the list above. Thank you Holly.
Gliff sounds intriguing. Thanks for the recommendation, Denise.
I would also add Neal Stephenson’s “Termination Shock.” I’ve read this twice.
This one’s been sitting on my TBR for quite awhile, Sandy. I’ll bump it up!
thanks for this collection! i have read both Water Knife and American War (in maybe 2018/2019) and i still think about those books …. pretty much daily. looking forward to checking out others!
I hope you enjoy, Sara!
This is a great list! I’ve only read a couple and several were completely new to me.
Thanks, Neelee – I hope you find some new favorites.
Thank you for this list! They are all new titles for me. I would also add Charlotte McConaghy’s Migrations. It’s excellent.
I can’t wait to read her new Wild Dark Shore, too – I’ll definitely check out Migrations!
I’m currently reading Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler (second in the series) and highly recommend this series.
I was definitely thinking of the Parable books when I read through this list. Parable of the Sower, in particular, was ahead of its time.
This series is so, so good.
After the Flood by Kassandra Montag provides a dystopian view of climate change and political upheaval couched in a classic adventure format.
Louisa, I was hoping to read this one while preparing this post but it’s still been on my library holds list. I’m eager to read it soon!
Termination Shock by Neal Stephenson comes to mind right after Ministry for the future. Stephenson’s works are deep and wide and so very entertaining. Hopefully we readers also learn something from them!
I would add to these Juice by Tim Winton, set in the future. A powerful comment on how we had the chance to arrest global warming but missed the moment. An environmental thriller about guerilla gardening with a Shakespearean bent is Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton.
Yes! I loved Birnam Wood, thanks for adding that one to this list. I can’t wait to get my hands on Juice.
Thanks for including some Canadian books on the list. Here’s another one to add: Greenwood by Michael Christie follows one family from 1908 to 2038 as they work with trees and forests. The last of the family is a guide on one of the few preserves of big Douglas fir trees.
Wendy, that sounds fascinating and is totally new to me. Thanks for sharing the recommendation!
Great list. Another one that has stuck with me is A Children’s Bible by Lydia Millet.
Oh, great idea, thank you Caroline. I have yet to read that one, but have heard many people speak highly of it.
While not dystopian, Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver fits here as well. A beautiful story.
Climate fiction is something I had never thought about but I love the idea and I will pick up a few of these to read. It is eye opening to read these type of books and imagine the possibilities of how things may play out. We are already beginning to see so many changes in the weather and real time impacts. Books offer the safety of it not being real yet!
What a great list! I’d love to add All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders. It’s about two childhood friends who lose touch until adulthood, where they run into one another again while they’re working to address ever increasing climate impacts but from very different perspectives (one is witch, one is an engineer). They each represent different approaches to dealing with the climate crisis, and the book grapples with the consequences of both of those choices. It came out back in 2016 and is a great genre-bending novel (which were unusual back then!). I still think about it regularly.
I haven’t read it yet, but All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall looks really good. The bookseller described it as a cross between Parable of the Sower and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
I too loved The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton. In a somewhat similar story, Rivers by Michael Farris Smith, is also set along the southern states along the Gulf Coast, and tells of increasingly violent storms, along with those who wish to exploit anyone who appears more vulnerable
One of my most favorite books ever is The Overstory by Richard Powers. While it is not so dystopian, it is a warning about climate change.
For something not dystopian, try The EarthStar Solution by Arlene Williams — a present day climate mystery.
Comments are closed.