A review by jayisreading
Metamorphosis: Climate Fiction for a Better Future by Grist

hopeful reflective medium-paced

4.0

This is such a timely collection of speculative fiction short stories that explicitly deal with humans contending with the effects of climate change. I really appreciated the diversity of these short stories, ranging from the settings to the characters’ identities and perspectives. It’s clear that those at Grist were very deliberate about making sure an array of voices was captured to demonstrate that climate change affects us all. Yet, rather than focusing on the grim realities of climate change, the contributors of this collection look hopefully toward making progress for a better future. They more than acknowledge that there will be challenges, but they encourage us to think of the possibilities that lie in store for us once we start working with nature. Perhaps not surprisingly, the devastating effects of colonization come up often in this collection, and, relatedly, Indigenous peoples’ roles in taking care of the land and returning to them stewardship of these lands that have been occupied.

Overall, I found all the stories to be engaging in their own ways (some more so than others), but I thought the story that shone the brightest was Sanjana Sekhar’s “Cabbage Koora: A Prognostic Autobiography,” which beautifully explored the relationship between humans and nature through a nuanced multigenerational story.

I’m thankful to everyone involved in bringing this collection to life. It’s a light—even if small—that I think many need these days.
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