Ilija Trojanow's 'The Lamentations of Zeno' (2011/2016): Prophetic Cli-Fi

Trojanow's novel is the best known example of German climate change fiction. It is a work written in the prophetic mode, a cautionary tale warning readers of the unsustainability of our way of life. The main protagonist is a persona of the author. He is however a flawed character. This chapter argues that the novel is more complex than it appears at first sight: while it is a confessional narrative appealing to readers; environmental consciences, it simultaneously exposes the misanthropy which has characterised parts of the environmental movement.