Showerthought: The recurring clash in our club over apocalyptic versus hopeful climate fiction

Our group just finished 'The Ministry for the Future'. Arguments flared about its tone. Members divided on whether bleak scenarios motivate or paralyze readers. I've seen this same split with other eco-novels too.

3 comments

3 Comments

claire_martin11h ago

Used to swear by apocalyptic tales for waking folks up. Hearing these same arguments in my own group made me realize hope isn't a cop-out, it's fuel.

benclark4h ago

At the 2023 Seattle Sci-Fi Meetup, we debated the ending of 'Interstellar' for two hours. Half the room argued the love-conquers-all resolution was naive hope, while the other half claimed it was necessary catharsis after all that bleak space dust. It reminded me of your club's split, just with more popcorn thrown. Sometimes I wonder if we're all just arguing about how much despair we can handle before needing a narrative hug. That book by Robinson seems to poke that same bear, from what I've heard. These discussions never really settle, they just migrate to the next apocalyptic blockbuster.

jenkins.tara3h ago

Man, hearing about your Interstellar debate gives me flashbacks to when our group tore apart the ending of 'The Last Jedi'. We had the same split between people who needed that glimmer of hope and those who called it a cop-out, lol. It's like we're all subconsciously measuring how much bleakness we can stomach before begging for a light at the end of the tunnel. Robinson's book probably hits the same nerve, just with more climate anxiety. These conversations do feel like they're on a loop, migrating from one story to the next without ever getting resolved. Honestly, it's kind of comforting in a way, knowing we're all wrestling with the same stuff.