Scorchers: A Climate Fiction Anthology
A new antipodean anthology of climate change short fiction might just contribute to humanity imagining its way out of this existential crisis.
This is the hope of Associate Professor Paul Mountfort, Chair of AUT’s Centre for Creative Writing, and Dr Rosslyn Prosser, of the University of Adelaide, who commissioned the new book Scorchers: A Climate Fiction Anthology, to be released on 18 November.
“While the climate emergency can easily engender despair, we believe that the aesthetic, philosophical and moral responses achievable through literature can nonetheless stand as a sign of hope,” the editors say in their prelude.
“It is, after all, in story that all the facts, figures and graphs are fleshed out and take human form, potential paths of flight become apparent, and through which the call to action gains ever greater urgency.”
Scorchers: A Climate Fiction Anthology is a collection of 16 short stories, written by a range of Australasia’s most celebrated authors, including Patricia Grace and Witi Ihimaera.
AUT Centre for Creative Writing’s contributing authors include Mike Johnson, James George and Paul Mountfort.
“The resulting collection spans rural towns and futuristic metropolises, space stations and back yards, familiar laneways and underground cities,” publicity for the book says.
“Its themes of love, loss, despair and tentative hope transcend its immediate settings and speak urgently to the burning issue of our times.”
Dr Russel Norman and Dr Hinemoa Elder will speak at the launch of the anthology at the Ellen Melville Centre in Auckland on 18 November at 6.30pm.
Scorchers: A Climate Fiction Anthology is published by Steam Press, an imprint of Eunoia Publishing Group. Those who would like to attend the launch are asked to RSVP.