Madeline Tien and Robbie Arnott are among the authors shortlisted for this year’s £10,000 Climate Novel Prize, which celebrates imaginative storytelling addressing the climate crisis. The diverse shortlist features various genres, including detective fiction and reimagined mythology.
Tien’s “The Book of Records” follows a girl and her father escaping a flood in near-future China, showcasing the human impact of climate change and social injustice. Guardian reviewer Xan Brooks praised it as a “rich and beautiful novel.” Arnott’s “Twilight,” about twins hunting mountain lions in Tasmania, is described by James Bradley as “extremely beautiful and deeply felt.”
Keshava Guha’s “The Tiger’s Share,” a national narrative set in pollution-stricken Delhi, and Susannah Kwan’s debut “Awake in the Floating City,” about an artist caring for an elderly woman in a flooded San Francisco, are also in the running. Other notable works include Maria Leva’s “Endring,” which explores environmental collapse amidst Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and Helen Phillips’ “Hum,” set in a toxic near-future with job-stealing robots.
Judges include noted critics and climate scientists, and the award is funded by Climate Spring. Lucy Stone, the founder, highlighted the novels’ themes of power, accountability, and resilience. The winners will be announced on May 27. The award was launched at the Hay Literary Festival, with the first winner being Abi Darre’s “And Then I Roar.” Eligibility requires books to be published in the UK between September 1, 2024, and August 31, 2025.
Source link
