Cli-Fi: How 'Cli-fi' Novels, Movies, and Climate Change Will Effect Us All

November 13, 2015 | Kelli | Comments (3) Share on facebookShare on twitter Share on email More Sharing Services 1

Novels and movies about climate change have been dubbed by the media as "cli-fi", which is a literary genre that deals with the impacts of climate change. According to a recent articles in the Atlantic  and Wired, the term 'cli-fi" was coined in 2008 by the Asia-based climate activist and journalist Dan Bloom who was looking to spice up the dull name of 'cliiiiiiiimate fiiiiiiiction' and raise awareness about global warming. In this genre, authors take climate change predictions to their logical conclusion and explore how people may survive. There are upbeat utopian stories, too. It's mot all doom and gloom, says Bloom.

 

Cli-fi is not a subcategory [or subgenre] of science fiction.  It is a separate, standalone, independent genre of its own. REPEAT: It is a separate, standalone, independent genre of its own. It has nothing to do with sci-fi.

 

Popular authors of this ''cli-fi-ish'' novels are Margaret Atwood, Paolo Bacigalupi and Kim Stanley Robinson.  

With COP21, the United Nations Conference of Climate Change being held soon, from November 30 - December 11, 2015 in Le Bourget, France, this is a great time to try one of the many books in this growing genre.

Here are a few 'cli-fi' books:
Forty Signs of Rain by Kim Stanley Robinson
Senate environmental staffer Charlie Quibler must find a way to get a skeptical Washington administration to act on climate change before it's too late. His wife, Anna, who works at the National Science Foundation, comes across a proposal for a revolutionary process that could solve the problem of global warming. However, when a race to control the budding technology begins, the stakes only get higher and fate is about to create a twist that will place them at the heart of an unavoidable storm.
• eBook
Gold Fame Citrus by Claire Vaye Watkins
Unrelenting drought has changed Southern California. In this barren world most "Mojavs," prevented moving to lusher regions, have allowed themselves to be evacuated to internment camps. Two young Mojavs, Luz and Ray, squat in an abandoned mansion subsisting on whatever they can loot or scavenge. When they cross paths with a mysterious child, they begin to thirst for a better future.
• eBook
• eAudiobook
Memory of Water by Emmi Itäranta
In the far north of the Scandinavia, in the power state of New Qian, Noria Kaitio studies to become a tea master. It is a position that holds great responsibility and a dangerous secret. Tea masters alone know the location of hidden water sources, including the natural spring that once provided water for her whole village. Nominated for the Arthur C. Clarke Award 2015.
• eBook
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
In this first book of the Maddaddam trilogy, Snowman is struggling to survive in a world where he may be the last human. He embarks on a journey through the lush wilderness that was recently a great city, until powerful corporations took mankind on an uncontrolled genetic engineering ride.
• Large Print
• Audiobook
• eBook
• eAudiobook
• Talking Book (Restricted to print disabled patrons)
The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi
In an American Southwest decimated by drought, Angel Velasquez is working as a water cutter, ensuring through violence that lush, luxurious developments have access to water.  Sent off to investigate a new source, Angel meets journalist Lucy and migrant Maria. The three work together when they find themselves used as pawns, but in this world where water is more valuable than gold, alliances shift like the sand.
• Large Print
• Audiobook
• eBook

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NOTE TO KELLI, who wrote the above article, with minor edits by this blogger: Kelli, very good piece and I will add it to my link farm of cli-fi news articles and analyses from the four corners of the world at The Cli-Fi Report at http://cli-fi.net
As a committed climate activist and non-PhD literary theorist who was looking to spice up the dull name of 'climate fiction' and make it more media headline-savvy and short for headline space, while also raising awareness about global warming, I was happy to see your very good piece here. Bravo.

One note: You typed Gold Flame Citrus  when you meant to type Gold Fame Citrus. This is what is known as an atomic typo since the words are spelled correctly but SPELLCHECK cannot "see" them in different contexts. Fix later if you can. See http://atomictypo.blogspot.com