Climate fiction is literature that deals with the effects of climate change; these novels tell a future that might happen in the near future because of climate change and global warming. As Saatolog editors, we have compiled most crucial cli-fi novels to inspire you to save the planet.
The climate crisis is one of the most discussed and talked about global issues in recent years, indeed, we need to talk more and more about climate change and its effects every passing day. However, humans as being are inclined to ignore the climate crisis until its effects begin to seem clearly. All the whole, we grasp the danger when the effects of the crisis appear with disasters such as extreme droughts, great fires and floods.
A few weeks ago, a fire disaster began in the south of Turkey that brings to mind the danger of climate crisis. With these fires, we have seen more than ever how close and devastating the effect of climate change is. Consequently, I began to read articles and interviews about the fires and climate change. Later on, I explored the climate-fiction, which is a new genre in literature.
Climate Change in Literature
Indeed, reading the scientific issues such as climate change and global warming from fiction, might leave a question mark in our readers’ mind. However, I believe that fiction helps humanity resist in crisis time and has an important role to raise individual awareness and gaining consciousness. With cli-fi novels, we are seeing the world through character’s eyes, who see what will happen to cities in the future.
The birth of climate fiction dates to the early 2000s. Journalist and nature activist Dan Bloom invented the concept of “Climate Fiction” or shortly “Cli-Fi” in 2008. The concept became popular when it was heard on an independent radio broadcast from the USA in 2013. Later on, its popularity is growing gradually with the New York Times. Thus, the journey of climate fiction began. Margaret Atwood and David Matchell are leading authors of the genre.
Köpekli Çocuklar Gecesi, Oya Baydar, Can Publications, 2019.
Köpekli Çocuklar Gecesi can be considered as the first ecological dystopia in Turkish literature. Novel tells the story of Children with Dogs and Children of Climate, who are trying to save the Earth that has become unhabitable because of global climate disasters such as droughts and pollution. The effects of the climate crisis, which all we know but ignore, are written in a dystopian world. Although, novel is about a future-oriented disaster scenario, calls to awareness to save the Earth. That is why, a single flower blooming in a dry land on the book cover.
