In 2005, Bill McKibben, a renowned climate activist and author, posed a thought-provoking question to the creative world: “Where are the books? The poems? The plays? The goddamn operas?” (Read more here.)
While the immediate response from filmmakers and novelists was enthusiastic, a noticeable shift occurred post-2015, with filmmakers slowing down while novelists continued to ramp up their creations. This steady increase in literary output in the realm of climate fiction spurred a new initiative in 2024, when Climate Spring—a coalition of writers and critics—called for nominations for the inaugural Climate Fiction Prize. The winner, announced in May 2025, was highlighted by Yale Climate Connections, which published a comprehensive list of nine finalists here.
In the months following, Yale Climate Connections continued to explore the genre, featuring another nine haunting titles for Halloween in October 2025 (Explore the list). As the year winds down, a new compilation of climate-themed fiction is being shared for the holiday season, with only three titles previously highlighted.
This curated selection begins with three anthologies rich in stories, essays, and artwork. It then highlights six novels by American authors, many of which have been released in recent months. The collection concludes with three compelling works from authors based in India, the Netherlands, and the UK, with two—“What We Can Know” by Ian McEwan and “A Guardian and a Thief” by Megha Majumdar—having been featured on year-end best book lists.
The descriptions below are derived from publisher-provided summaries:
Metamorphosis: Climate Fiction for a Better Future, edited by Grist (Milkweed Editions 2025, 232 pages, $20.00 paperback)
These twelve visionary stories, winners of the Imagine 2200 climate fiction contest, delve into futures shaped by sustainability and justice. Among them, a beekeeper devises a flood warning system, and an oceanic survivor adapts to life on a lonely island. This collection, curated by Grist, showcases the potential of fiction to imagine thriving futures.
Climate Imagination: Dispatches from Hopeful Futures, edited by Joey Eschrich and Ed Finn (The MIT Press 2025, 354 pages, $40.00 paperback)
Challenging the often-catastrophic narratives surrounding climate change, this anthology seeks to inspire hope through speculative fiction, essays, and visual art. It envisions positive futures for diverse communities worldwide, from China to Wales and beyond.
We Will Rise Again: Speculative Stories and Essays on Protest, Resistance, and Hope, edited by Karen Lord, Annalee Newitz, and Malka Older (Saga Press 2025, 384 pages, $20.00 paperback)
Exploring themes of social change, this collection highlights the power of solidarity, empathy, and creativity through stories from esteemed authors like NK Jemisin and Charlie Jane Anders. It presents a blueprint for envisioning a different world.
Awake in the Floating City: A Novel by Susanna Kwan (Pantheon 2025, 320 pages, $28.00)
In a city submerged by relentless rain, Bo finds solace and purpose in caring for an elderly woman, Mia. Their bond deepens as Bo grapples with the impending loss of her world and its history.
The Float Test: A Novel by Lynn Steger Strong (Harper Collins 2025, 272 pages, $28.99)
The Kenner siblings reunite amid personal loss and climate upheaval, revealing fractured relationships and a world changed by environmental challenges. This novel examines family dynamics against the backdrop of a warming planet.
All the Water in the World: A Novel by Eiren Caffall (St. Martin’s Press 2025, 304 pages, $29.00)
Set in a post-glacial New York City, this novel follows a family navigating a landscape transformed by climate change. As they journey northward, they encounter communities adapting in surprising ways, striving to preserve a world worth saving.
Ancestors: A Novel by adrienne maree brown (AK Press 2025, 256 pages, $19.00 paperback)
The third installment of the Grievers trilogy, Ancestors explores the aftermath of a pandemic in Detroit. As survivors build a future among deserted skyscrapers, they grapple with the balance between safety and confinement.
Happy Bad: A Novel by Delaney Nolan (Astra House 2025, 320 pages, $26.00)
Amid a heat wave-induced blackout, Beatrice and her colleagues at a treatment center in Texas must evacuate their charges. This novel captures the chaos and camaraderie of their journey, blending humor with political undertones.
Bad Nature: A Novel by Ariel Courage (Henry Holt & Company 2025, 304 pages, $28.99)
Hester’s journey across America with an activist named John becomes a poignant tale of redemption and ecological awareness. This road-trip novel examines the indulgence of grudges and the possibility of forgiveness.
Sea Now: A Novel by Eva Meijer, translated by Anne Thompson Melo (Two Lines Press 2025, 180 pages, $18.00 paperback)
As the Netherlands succumbs to rising tides, three women embark on a journey through flooded cities, witnessing nature’s resilience. This novel redefines climate fiction by focusing on the resurgence of the natural world.
What We Can Know: A Novel by Ian McEwan (Knopf 2025, 320 pages, $30.00)
Set in 2119, this tale explores a flooded world where a scholar, Thomas Metcalfe, seeks a lost poem, uncovering secrets of past loves and crimes. It’s a meditation on loss and discovery in a changed world.
A Guardian and a Thief: A Novel by Megha Majumdar (Knopf 2025, 224 pages, $29.00)
In a near-future Kolkata, Ma’s search for stolen immigration documents intertwines with the story of a desperate thief. This novel explores themes of survival and sacrifice as two families struggle to protect their futures.
Original Story at yaleclimateconnections.org