Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
We're kicking off the year with a very special interview about how present-day literature is reflecting the crisis we're collectively experiencing—and why some of the novels published today fail to grasp both the intensity and complexity of our world.
Heather Milligan is a literature scholar specialising in the relatively recent genre of eco-gothic. She joins me to explain what defines climate literature, from cli-fi and apocalyptic narratives to eco-gothic tales, revealing the key differences between these two genres, and which tends to subtly reflect the same hubris by which humanity continues to believe itself the solution to Earth's emergency.
This is a beautiful episode, filled with references to wonderful novels and key insights into why we turn to literature in times of crisis.
🔴 Heather's research: lboro.ac.uk/subjects/english/staff/heather-ray-milligan
🌎 Support Planet: Critical: patreon.com/planetcritical
🌎 Subscribe to the newsletter: planetcritical.com
🌎 BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/racheldonald.bsky.social
If you're looking to expand your climate fiction reading list – beyond the many novels we discuss in this episode – check out this fiction series from environmental publication, Grist. Imagine 2200: Climate Fiction for Future Ancestors "engages writers from across the globe in envisioning the next generations of climate progress. Whether built on abundance or adaptation, reform or a new understanding of survival, these stories provide flickers of hope, even joy, and serve as a springboard for exploring how fiction can help create a better reality." Explore the series here, and subscribe today to get Imagine 2200 delivered to your inbox: grist.org/imagine2200/?utm_source=Planet-Critical&utm_medium=Newsletter-Podcast&utm_campaign=Growth&utm_content=Direct-to-your-inbox&utm_term=Climate-Fiction
We're kicking off the year with a very special interview about how present-day literature is reflecting the crisis we're collectively experiencing—and why some of the novels published today fail to grasp both the intensity and complexity of our world.
Heather Milligan is a literature scholar specialising in the relatively recent genre of eco-gothic. She joins me to explain what defines climate literature, from cli-fi and apocalyptic narratives to eco-gothic tales, revealing the key differences between these two genres, and which tends to subtly reflect the same hubris by which humanity continues to believe itself the solution to Earth's emergency.
This is a beautiful episode, filled with references to wonderful novels and key insights into why we turn to literature in times of crisis.
🔴 Heather's research: lboro.ac.uk/subjects/english/staff/heather-ray-milligan
🌎 Support Planet: Critical: patreon.com/planetcritical
🌎 Subscribe to the newsletter: planetcritical.com
🌎 BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/racheldonald.bsky.social
If you're looking to expand your climate fiction reading list – beyond the many novels we discuss in this episode – check out this fiction series from environmental publication, Grist. Imagine 2200: Climate Fiction for Future Ancestors "engages writers from across the globe in envisioning the next generations of climate progress. Whether built on abundance or adaptation, reform or a new understanding of survival, these stories provide flickers of hope, even joy, and serve as a springboard for exploring how fiction can help create a better reality." Explore the series here, and subscribe today to get Imagine 2200 delivered to your inbox: grist.org/imagine2200/?utm_source=Planet-Critical&utm_medium=Newsletter-Podcast&utm_campaign=Growth&utm_content=Direct-to-your-inbox&utm_term=Climate-Fiction
