Cli-Fi Beyond the American Thriller: Cultural and Aesthetic Alternatives in Climate Change Fiction Since 2010

Most cli-fi is written in the genres of thriller, disaster novel and science fiction. However, recent climate change novels are characterised by greater cultural diversity and a wider range of aesthetic strategies and narrative forms. The works presented in this essay, Emmi Itäranta’s Memory of Water, Franz Friedrich’s On Uusimaa the Tits Have Stopped Singing, Amitav Ghosh’s Gun Island and Philippe Squarzoni’s Climate Changed, use symbols and poetic language, multiple narratives and reference to myths, legends and cultural traditions to promote awareness of nature’s agency and attentiveness to the environment. While commentators on cli-fi have tended to focus on the role of action fiction and didactic writing in attracting and informing readers, novels such as those from Finland, Germany, India and France examined here also have a role to play in helping society address environmental challenges.