#23 – Overpopulation and Environmental Collapse

Posted on March 1, 2021 by Alex R. Howe

#46 – Science Fiction Today – A Reader's History of Science Fiction

In the final episode of Season 1, we explore the state of the science fiction genre in the present day. Book recommendation: The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin Worlds Without End's list of sci-fi classics Worlds Without End's customizable list N. K. Jemisin on the Broken Earth trilogy Edit: corrected links. Other books discussed: The Lady Astronaut series by Mary Robinette Kowal The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells
  1. #46 – Science Fiction Today
  2. Bonus Episode: More Alternate History
  3. #45 – Young Adult Dystopias
  4. #44 – The Children's Sci-Fi Renaissance
  5. #43 – Solar System Exploration

In the 60s and 70s, awareness of environmental issues was rising, and that was reflected in the New Wave of science fiction. Of particular note were overpopulation and pollution (leading to widespread environmental collapse). In this episode, we explore the highlights of this subgenre.

Book recommendation: Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner

Other books mentioned:
Make Room! Make Room! by Harry Harrison
The Sheep Look Up by John Brunner
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi

Paolo Bacigalupi interview on The Windup Girl

Check out this episode!

About Alex R. Howe

I'm a full-time astrophysicist and a part-time science fiction writer.
This entry was posted in A Reader's History of Science Fiction and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

1 Response to #23 – Overpopulation and Environmental Collapse

  1. Wyrd Smythe says:
    March 25, 2021 at 23:01

    And the very obscure Half Past Human and The Godwhale by T.J. Bass.

Comments are closed.