Futures to Live By

Science fiction, or speculative fiction if you prefer, as I do, is not something I’ve spent any time with in recent years. Decades, really, with the one exception being Kim Stanley Robinson’s Ministry for the Future which sparked my curiosity… how was climate change being addressed in fiction?

Futures to Live By is apparently representative of a sub-genre known as solarpunk but even after finishing these short stories I’m not too sure what it is. But no matter, the stories speak for themselves. They envision future worlds where the survivors of ecological disasters have found ways to live compassionately rather than descend into dystopian horror. The disasters are hinted at, ranging from floods to fires, in once temperate zones show more to now tropical islands reminiscent, I assume, of the author's childhood in Malaysia. Some of the stories read as if they may have been excerpted from larger works but all are coherent realizations of possible lifestyles adapted to different expectations (different, that is, from continued growth fueling ever expanding consumption). I particularly liked the bioluminescent trees which cropped up in several different stories and the near universal partaking of dandelion brews in the absence of tea or coffee. And a new, old word - twitten - which I’d not encountered before even though I grew up in Kent, neighbor to Sussex where it apparently originated. Twitten - a narrow path between two walls or hedges.

Fans of solarpunk and SF more broadly should all enjoy this collection. show less

Lovely collection of short stories in the solarpunk/hopepunk space. I enjoyed all of them, which is not common in short story collections. All are post-apocalyptic to some degree or other, sometimes with more technology surviving, including ethical AI and robots, and sometimes pure sustainable systems, at more solar power. (there is never any consideration of the manufacturing requirements of things like solar panels).

The characters all shine, at times shy and awkward, recovering, but always with hope for a better future and the chances to get there. Romance blossoms in many forms straight, gay and multiple, but always with understanding of the needs of everyone in a relationship, whether that's space, time or just a hug.

A timely show more reminder the world need not be bleak. An author to watch out for. show less

A bitter sweet collection dealing with a changed world and how people cope with that change.

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