The Near Future in Twenty-First-Century Fiction: Climate, Retreat and Revolution

The Near Future in 21st Century Fiction explores how our contemporary near future splits between two divergent paths: one that seeks to retreat from climate change and the disruption it threatens to affluent lifestyles, and another that tries to imagine new forms of community and radical change. This struggle reveals the outlines of an emergent near future form: a revolution fit for the Anthropocene.

Format: Hardback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 22 December 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The growing awareness of climate change and the looming planetary crisis has placed unprecedented pressure on the near future, leading to an increasing amount of fiction being set there. However, what do these disparate works have in common, other than their temporal setting? And what can the imagination of the near future tell us about where we live now?

The Near Future in 21st Century Fiction spans novels and films to explore how our contemporary near future splits between two divergent paths. One seeks to retreat from climate change and the disruption it threatens to affluent lifestyles, while the other attempts to imagine new forms of community and radical change but struggles to locate a genre adequate to the task. In this struggle, however, we begin to glimpse the outlines of an emergent near future form: a revolution fit for the Anthropocene.

The first path, seeking to retreat from climate change, is characterized by a sense of isolation and withdrawal. The characters in these works are often wealthy and privileged, living in secluded communities or private estates that are designed to protect them from the outside world. They rely on technology and automation to maintain their lifestyle, and they view climate change as a threat to their way of life.

The second path, seeking to imagine new forms of community and radical change, is characterized by a sense of hope and optimism. The characters in these works are often marginalized or oppressed, living in communities that are struggling to survive in the face of climate change and other social and economic challenges. They are searching for new ways of living and organizing, and they are willing to take risks and experiment with new ideas.

One of the key themes that emerges from these disparate works is the idea of resilience. The characters in these works are forced to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances, and they develop new skills and abilities to survive. They learn to work together and build communities that are resilient to climate change and other threats, and they develop a sense of hope and optimism that can inspire others.

Another theme that emerges from these works is the idea of interconnectedness. The characters in these works recognize that climate change is not just a problem that affects them individually, but a problem that affects all of humanity. They understand that we are all interconnected and that we must work together to address the challenges that we face.

The imagination of the near future can also tell us something about where we live now. By exploring the potential outcomes of climate change and other social and economic challenges, we can gain a better understanding of the risks and opportunities that we face. We can also gain a better understanding of the values and beliefs that guide our actions and decisions, and we can develop new strategies for living and organizing that are more resilient and sustainable.

In conclusion, the growing awareness of climate change and the looming planetary crisis has placed unprecedented pressure on the near future, leading to an increasing amount of fiction being set there. The Near Future in 21st Century Fiction spans novels and films to explore how our contemporary near future splits between two divergent paths. One seeks to retreat from climate change and the disruption it threatens to affluent lifestyles, while the other attempts to imagine new forms of community and radical change but struggles to locate a genre adequate to the task. In this struggle, however, we begin to glimpse the outlines of an emergent near future form: a revolution fit for the Anthropocene. The characters in these works are forced to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances, and they develop new skills and abilities to survive. They learn to work together and build communities that are resilient to climate change and other threats, and they develop a sense of hope and optimism that can inspire others. The imagination of the near future can also tell us something about where we live now, by exploring the potential outcomes of climate change and other social and economic challenges. We can gain a better understanding of the risks and opportunities that we face, and we can develop new strategies for living and organizing that are more resilient and sustainable.

ISBN-13: 9781009279888