Perspectives

Literary perspective: climate fiction

The short story “The Disaster Store” by Helen Phillips belongs to the climate fiction genre, which deals with climate change. Usually, climate fiction is set either in a dystopian future – like in Phillips’ story – or the w…

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Works in the same genre

If you want to read a story set in a dystopian future, we recommend you read “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut. The events take place in the year 2081, in a dystopian US characterized by egalitarianism, where the TV is a symbol of mass manipulation and distraction. 

We also recommend the short story “The Pedestrian” by Ray Bradbury, which presents a dystopian society where people are brainwashed through screens and simple activities such as taking a walk are punished by law. 

Both “Harrison Bergeron” and “The Pedestrian” have common elements with “The Disaster Store”, including fear of the outside world and the existence of a run-down natural world. 

The short story “The Polar Bear” by Jeannette Winterson is a good example of climate fiction. The short story is told from the point of view of a polar bear who mourns the loss of his habitat. Like “The Disaster Store”, “ The Polar Bear” also tackles the consequences of climate change and pollution, highlighting at the same time the importance of maintaining a connection to the nat…