Back in the mid- to late 1970s, when science fiction’s “new wave” was in full flower, themed anthologies were popular, appearing almost as often as the various annual “best of” collections. Some enterprising editor would select a theme — be it religion, sex, war or what have you — and solicit various sci-fi authors to have a short story go at it.
Gordon Van Gelder, editor/publisher of THE MAGAZINE OF FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION and numerous collections, may not be trying to revive this trend with WELCOME TO THE GREENHOUSE, but simply couldn’t resist the urge to have a group of far-flung thinkers imagine the future effects of a very contemporary topic: climate change.
Climate change, the more inclusive term for global warming, remains both topical and controversial today not only because it speaks to our known existence, but because there are those in positions of political influence who simply do not believe it is a problem. “There is a lot about global warming that we don’t know,” admits environmental journalist Elizabeth Kolbert in her preface. “The greatest unknown of all is, of course, how people, collectively, will respond.”
So Van Gelder presents 16 imagined responses, and while uneven and sometimes disappointing, they are all inventive and surprisingly varied. Take the opening entry, Brian W. Aldiss’ “Benkoelin,” a moody, sad reminiscence of a trip to a remote island by an envoy who must report to his sister that budget cuts are shutting down her wildlife conservation center. Knowing the fate of her protected animals, she responds, “They’ll die.” To which her brother the envoy responds, “They’ll have to take a chance. Like the rest of us …”
Compare this to Alan Dean Foster’s darkly funny “That Creeping Sensation,” which follows a day in the life of a team of military dispatched exterminators who must defend the cities from attacks of 6-inch bees, yard-long scorpions, and even 3-foot roaches — all the results of the overabundance of oxygen in the atmosphere caused by global warming.
Most effective are stories like Gregory Benford’s “Eagle,” which follows a band of future eco-terrorists as it sabotages a mission to artificially restore the freezing climate to the Arctic region, only to encounter retaliation from a most unexpected source. It’s the kind of number that leaves you pondering who is really fighting the good fight.
Slightly less effective, but still thought-provoking, are stories like Paul Di Filippo’s “FarmEarth,” which imagines the stewardship of the environment turned into a sort of video game played by teens, and what happens when a group of bored players tries to advance to a level for which they are not yet prepared. Or “Damned When You Do,” by Jeff Carlson, where a humble father recalls the short life of his godlike, terraforming son, who takes extraordinary efforts to save the planet.
Even when the tales don’t live up to the promise of their premise, or seem a little hazy in their execution (like Carlson’s), you cannot help but be impressed by many and differing approaches these authors took when they responded to Van Gelder’s challenge. Just to drive home the point of how important and enduring the topic is, the anthology includes a list of additional reading for those who want to see even more variations on the theme.
WELCOME TO THE GREENHOUSE is recommended for anyone who enjoys the kind of science fiction that takes our current world not too far into the future. Who knows? After reading a few of them, you might find yourself taking the extra effort to separate the recyclables from the rest of your garbage. —Alan Cranis
Related posts:
- The Del Rey Book of Science Fiction and Fantasy: Sixteen Original Works by Speculative Fiction’s Finest Voices
- Novel Ideas: Science Fiction
- The Science Fiction Century: Volume 1
- Eclipse One: New Fantasy and Science Fiction
- Bradbury, Asimov among TV’s MASTERS OF SCIENCE FICTION
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
At Xmas, sick of robins and santas, I sent 100 friends a small booklet entitled BENKOELEN. It carried more or less the same story, jiggered about a bit , as the version published as opener in Gordon Van Gelder’s excellent ‘WELCOME TO THE GREENHOUSE’.
The idea is to show that climate change does not happen just in the West, and not just to humans, but animals too. We can be charged with bringing trouble on ourselves. Animals ain’t guilty. B
You happen to want a copy? Please send funding.
Robins?
Batman and Howard Stern’s sidekicks.
I believe robins* are commonly seen on UK Christmas cards.
*The bird. Batman’s sidekick is generally seen on American Valentine’s cards.
Mr. Aldiss, where would I send funding if I were interested in a copy?