Understanding Climate Fiction’s Presence

Among creators on BookTok, the term “climate fiction” appears to be infrequently utilized. Many content creators attribute this tendency to the platform’s algorithm, which seemingly prioritizes mainstream genres like romantasy and fantasy. John-Paul (@jpreads6), with 20,100 followers, noted, “I’ve seen it used once or twice. But it isn’t something I see regularly. I think it’s because the algorithm is leaning more towards romantasy and fantasy.”

Alice (@bookswithalice; 13,800 followers) echoed this sentiment, stating, “It’s not something I’ve personally seen a lot of or discussed en masse, which may be because BookTok is currently dominated by romance/romantasy/thriller genres.”

Niche Genre Challenges

Creators like Busayo (@compulsivebookbuyers; 27,200 followers) have expressed that they have never encountered the term “climate fiction” on the platform. Further investigation confirmed that there are limited videos or discussions revolving around this category.

Conversely, Sanziana-Dana (@sanizreads; 3,318 followers) believes climate fiction is present on TikTok, albeit “very much a term that has flown significantly under the radar.” This suggests that while ecological narratives exist, their classification as climate fiction is not widely recognized.

Discussions Surrounding Ecological Themes

Suraka (@surakajanebooks; 16,600 followers) mentioned the tendency for BookTok to focus on character-driven stories rather than strictly categorizing works by their genre, indicating climate fiction’s potentially niche status in broader book discussions.

Brittany (@whatbritreads; 58,300 followers) proposed that the ambiguity of the term “climate fiction” contributes to its limited use among readers. She noted, “I wouldn’t say I’d be 100% confident in labelling a book as climate fiction as it’s not a classification I use often or have seen used often.” Additionally, Libbie (@bookish.daydreaming; 1,399 followers) pointed out that reading trends are currently skewed towards escapism, which may overshadow more pressing ecological issues.

Current Trends and Future Prospects

Surprisingly, notable books recognized in the Climate Fiction Prize shortlist, such as Kaliane Bradley’s Ministry of Time and Samantha Harvey’s Orbital, have not garnered attention on BookTok regarding their climate themes.

It is important to note that climate themes often emerge in dystopian literature. Emily reflected on how ecological narratives were more prominent during the dystopian boom of the 2010s, particularly citing James Dashner’s The Maze Runner as an example of a work that integrates such concerns within its narrative.

Brittany believes the potential resurgence of dystopian fiction could lead to a more overt discussion of ecological issues. “I think when the state of the world is difficult, a lot of authors and writers seek solace in trying to express themselves through their literary worlds,” she remarked.

Examples of Climate Fiction in Contemporary Literature

Suraka highlighted how certain novels, such as Ava Reid’s Fable for the End of the World, adeptly weave climate themes into their narratives. She described it as “a deeply atmospheric novel that combines folklore, environmental collapse and the haunting weight of history,” emphasizing its ability to provoke conversations about climate fiction.

Kobe (@frostgalaxy; 40,800 followers) also mentioned Reid’s work along with Julia Armfield’s Private Rites, which portrays ecological disaster as a backdrop to its characters’ lives rather than the focal point of the story.