Artists and Illustrations Included in This Record
Figure 1: Modes of climate communication along a continuum of meaning (John Cook).
Figure 2: Taxonomy of climate fantasy themes, including examples in published works. Arrows indicate how one narrative theme can lead to another theme (John Cook).
Abstract
Contributing to the failure to address climate change is a lack of public imagination, both in perceiving the threat of climate change and conceptualizing solutions. Climate fiction engages readers on an emotional level and speculative fiction in particular can invent alternative worlds illustrating different ways of thinking and living. Fantasy fiction is uniquely suited as a form of climate fiction, with its immersive, subversive qualities, prioritization of the nonhuman, and a tendency towards sprawling, multiple-volume epic series. This paper explores two categories of climate fantasy themes. One category is recovery—regaining a clear view of the natural world. The other is radical fantasy—overcoming oppressive and exploitative societal power structures through collective action. This paper explores how these themes appear in the works of Tolkien, Lewis, Jemisin, Martin, Hobb, and other authors.
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ORCID ID
0000-0001-8488-6766
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