In this episode of Futureverse, Molly Wood and Ramanan Raghavendran interview author Jeff VanderMeer to discuss, among many things, his latest novel, Absolution, the unexpected fourth installment of the Southern Reach series. The conversation explores the tangled web of human-environment relationships and how novels can serve as testing grounds for exploring ecological and psychological ideas. VanderMeer also talks about why he challenges the very terminology of “climate fiction” — he’s quite convincing!

Show Notes

(00:07) Exploring the Concept of Climate Fiction

(01:10) The Mysteries of Area X

(03:02) Writing Absolution: A Journey

(09:14) Interrogating Solutions in Climate Fiction

(14:13) Hyperobjects and Their Impact

(20:06) The Role of Non-Human Perspectives

(24:38) Frustrations with Bureaucracy

(33:12) Future Works and Adaptations

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In this episode of Futureverse, Molly Wood and Ramanan Raghavendran interview author Stephen Markley to dive deep into his novel, The Deluge. Through a meticulous exploration of a progressively destabilizing world, Markley illustrates the possible futures we might face if we fail to act on climate now.

They also discuss the American-centric narrative, climate denialism, surveillance capitalism, and the political dimensions of climate action. 

Time stamps and the full transcript are below. This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Show Notes

(00:10) Stephen Markley Discusses The Deluge

(05:49) The Frightening Reality of Methane Hydrates and Climate Change

(14:55) Crafting Climate Fiction to Emotionally Engage Readers

(25:10) The Impact of Surveillance Capitalism on Society and Democracy

(30:33) Influences and Inspirations Behind Stephen Markley's Writing Journey

(32:44) Climate Fiction's Coastal Differences and Future Urban Resilience

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In this episode of Futureverse, Molly Wood and Ramanan Raghavendran interview Edan Lepucki about her works of climate fiction, including her novel California and her short story "There's No Place Like Home."

Their discussion probes the intersections of climate fiction, personal relationships, and societal dynamics in a changing world. From fears of societal regression to the intricacies of world-building, Lepucki shares how climate change informs her narratives, seamlessly weaving environmental concerns into the fabric of her character-driven stories and challenges readers to confront the fragility of progress and the complexity of human nature amidst a backdrop of environmental catastrophes.

Time stamps and the full transcript are below. This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Show Notes

(02:45) Reimagining Dystopian Fiction in the Face of Climate Change

(07:10) Flawed Characters and the Myth of Apocalyptic Survival

(14:25) Imagining Apocalyptic Worlds Through Sensory Experiences

(16:06) Exploring Bleak Worlds as a Cathartic Writing Experience

(21:16) Secrets, Storytelling, and Climate Change Challenges

(26:29) Edan’s Literary Inspiration

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In this episode of Futureverse, Molly Wood and Ramanan Raghavendran interview acclaimed author, TC Boyle. The conversation dives into the climatic and biological challenges facing our planet and how they provide both a warning and an invitation to consider the permanence of life amidst human-induced environmental changes.  

Time stamps and the full transcript are below. This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Show Notes

[01:33] Boyle's obsession with our relationship to the earth as an animal species

[04:13] The current state of climate change and the need for hope

[06:56] The evocative descriptions of weather and climate change in Blue Skies

[10:40] The significance of bugs and their impact on the food chain

[17:25] Using satire and humor in addressing climate change. 

[22:24] The role of love in motivating people to act on climate change

[25:43] Boyle's motivation for writing: existential questions about life and meaning 

[26:43] The burden of consciousness and the impact of human actions on other species 

[28:13] Boyle’s upcoming novel with an environmental theme

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In the latest episode of Futureverse, Molly Wood and Ramanan Raghavendran interview American novelist and essayist Nathaniel Rich. Listen as they delve into the complexities of climate activism, political challenges, and literary reflections on the environmental crisis through Rich’s climate-inflected fiction and nonfiction works. Discover how literature grapples with the post-natural world, offering narratives that challenge traditional views of wilderness and human impact. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation on the urgent need for nuanced storytelling and meaningful policy responses in the face of environmental upheaval.

[01:54] Nathaniel Rich's journey into focusing on climate change

[08:59] Climate change and the importance of self-reflection 

[12:43] "Odds Against Tomorrow" and how climate change is portrayed in the book

[15:15] Financial vultures in capitalizing off disaster 

[17:31] What is morally right in a capitalistic system?

[20:34] Reaching solutions on climate change despite political consensus

[24:32] The framing of hope versus despair is an oversimplification

[27:31] How the language around climate change has shifted in the last five years

[28:22] The concept of a post-natural world is a realistic view

[31:39] Exploring the complexities and trade-offs of our current predicament

This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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In the latest episode of Futureverse, Molly Wood and Ramanan Raghavendran interview poet and author Janice Pariat. They chat about her latest novel, "Everything the Light Touches," and how her passion for nature and the environment has influenced her writing. Pariat reflects on the power of storytelling and hope in addressing climate change and emphasizes the importance of love, care, and taking a long-term approach in tackling the ecological crisis.

Time stamps and the full transcript are available on the episode page.

[02:10] Janice's Relationship with Nature and How it Influenced Her Writing 

[10:35] The Need for Love and Care in Conversations about Climate Change 

[13:48] Resistance and Arbitrary Orders 

[15:07] Janice's Personal Experience of Belonging and Identity 

[19:00] Janice’s Perspective on Climate Change and Deep Time 

[23:37] Craft of Prose and Different Viewpoints When Writing

[34:57] Writing as an Act of Hope, Resilience, and Transformation 

[37:39] Importance of Indigenous Stories and Their Wisdom 

[39:33] Janice’s Book Recommendations 

This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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In the latest episode of Futureverse, Molly Wood and Ramanan Raghavendran continue the conversation with author and visionary Kim Stanley Robinson. In Part 2, they discuss utopia (!), with Robinson pointing out that surviving the 21st century without a mass extinction event is the first step toward a utopian future.

Time stamps and the full transcript are available on the episode page.

(00:01:28) What is Utopia?

(00:05:50) Path to Improving Late Capitalism

(00:12:01) Capital Can Serve the People

(00:15:11) Come-along Explained

(00:24:12) Individual Actions Can Make a Difference

(00:27:57) Entrepreneurship in the Airship Sphere

This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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In the latest episode of Futureverse, Molly Wood and Ramanan Raghavendran interview Kim Stanley Robinson, known for his visionary works that explore themes of ecology, politics, and human interaction with the environment. In this episode, Robinson discusses the persistence of climate denial and skepticism, even after 30 years of scientific research and evidence, and emphasizes the importance of community in addressing climate change and finding solutions.

Time stamps and the full transcript are on the episode page.

[00:00:57] Kim Stanley Robinson’s Origins and Inspirations

[00:10:52] The Decline of Climate Change Denial

[00:14:10] Exploring the Intersection of Climate Change and Storytelling

[00:17:45] Utopian Science Fiction Writers and Hope For the Future

This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.futureverse.earth

In the latest episode of Futureverse, we interview Omar El Akkad, an award-winning Egyptian-Canadian journalist and author.

Omar’s most recent novel, What Strange Paradise, tells the story of those at the core of the refugee crisis. It explores themes including assimilation, identity, inequality, empathy, and the impact of climate change on society. In our conversation, Omar also delves into how his journalism career has influenced his fiction writing and the themes explored in What Strange Paradise.

Time stamps and the full transcript are below. This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.futureverse.earth

In the latest episode of Futureverse, hosts Molly and Ramanan interview Ruthanna Emrys, an acclaimed author known for her thought-provoking Lovecraftian novels.

We were so excited to talk to Emrys for our second episode. Her unique perspective about the future, the importance of parenthood and children, and how social justice intersects with climate change is incredibly enlightening and refreshing. Find more of her work here.

Like in all of her books, her latest novel A Half-Built Garden challenges inherent biases and explores themes of empathy, humanity, chosen family, and otherness in the context of climate change. During our conversation, Ruthanna emphasizes the importance of adapting to new problems and the idea that there is no utopian point where everything is solved.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.futureverse.earth