Climate Fiction: A Necessary Tool to Confront the Present Crisis

During a recent book tour across Europe, the author experienced record-breaking heatwaves, a stark reminder of the climate crisis's immediate impact. While the extreme temperatures led to thousands of excess deaths, many people, including the author, faced only minor inconveniences. This disparity highlights the uneven nature of climate disasters-devastating for some, mundane for others-prompting reflections on how literature can capture this reality. ## The Disparity of Climate Disasters The author recalls Hurricane Sandy in 2012, where the experience varied drastically between neighborhoods in New York City. While the Upper West Side remained relatively unaffected, lower Manhattan faced severe flooding, power outages, and infrastructure damage. The storm's aftermath revealed stark contrasts: some residents had the means to escape, while others struggled without basic necessities. This event underscored the global disparity in climate disaster responses, with some regions receiving swift aid and others relying on community support. The author also reflects on past disasters, such as the 1999 Odisha cyclone and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which had much higher death tolls but received less global attention. These events, often overlooked in mainstream narratives, highlight the need for literature that acknowledges the ongoing and historical impacts of climate change. ## The Limitations of Contemporary Fiction Amitav Ghosh's *The Great Derangement* critiques contemporary literary fiction for its inability to effectively represent the climate crisis. Ghosh argues that modern novels are too focused on individual psyches, constrained by space and time, and centered on human experiences, making them ill-suited to depict the improbable and far-reaching consequences of climate change. The author initially agreed with Ghosh's assessment but wondered if it was possible to write a novel that captures both the extraordinary events and the mundane realities of the climate crisis. ## A Novel Approach to Climate Fiction In response to Ghosh's critique, the author wrote *Under Water*, a realist novel that explores the slow violence of climate change through the experiences of its protagonist, Marissa. The novel moves between Hurricane Sandy and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, illustrating how a single individual's life can span multiple geographies and temporalities. By centering on Marissa's personal journey, the author challenges Ghosh's claim that the realist novel cannot effectively address the climate crisis. *Under Water* aims to pay close attention to the people and places affected by climate change, offering a nuanced portrayal of its impacts. The author concludes that while a single novel cannot encompass all aspects of the climate crisis, it can serve as a powerful tool for fostering awareness and empathy. By focusing on the lived experiences of individuals, literature can help bridge the gap between the extraordinary and the everyday, making the climate crisis more tangible and urgent.