The Deluge...
book review...and a few thoughts on art as activism
Hello friends (and welcome, new subscribers)!
I’ve become weirdly obsessed with “cli-fi” — authors’ creative attempts to grapple with the effects of climate change through fiction.
It gets at the heart of why we write and read in the first place: to imagine how we might behave under different circumstances. To discover, to process, to care, and hopefully better understand.
Making art (and appreciating art) is an act of curiosity, discovery, and often, triggers empathy.
(which is why — I’m just going to say it — AI art will never replace artists or writers. More on that in a future post)
The Deluge may seem like a startling place to open a series of good-footprint reviews. But it damn-sure made me sit up and pay attention. And I think that makes it a perfect place to start.
So here goes…
The Deluge, by Stephen Markley
If you were anywhere near me when I was reading this one, you likely heard me attempting to process a torrent of emotion along the way.
First, let’s get this out of the way: yes, this book is huge. I needed pillows to prop it up while reading. It’s a commitment to carry — physically and emotionally. But like the grueling climb up a fourteener when you’re out of breath, tempted to quit and turn back, if you persevere, the payoff inspires awe and is more than worth the effort. You might be sore afterwards… but sore muscles mean you got a little stronger in the process.
Because… WOW.
This epic (I do not use that word lightly) wildly ambitious book grabbed me by the throat, throttled me, shredded me and made me ache with horror. But amazingly — at the same time — it managed to be gut-wrenchingly soulful, unexpectedly funny, hopeful, and light-a-scorching-match-under-your-ass inspiring.
This is climate fiction, but as it grounds you in the very real present and then ushers you at a steady clip straight into the future, it reads more like the nonfiction/horror story we are collectively writing for ourselves right now. And the journey brings a roller-coaster of emotion. Kinda like life.
Spanning four decades, every content-warning imaginable is warranted for these pages as the pressures of dwindling resources, rising oceans, climate disasters, random-and-targeted-violence, and fractured politics mount (if you were a Game of Thrones fan, let the fact that there’s a dog named Tyrion and a kid nicknamed Khaleesi serve as fair warning on where story might go).
Stephen King called this the “scariest book he’s ever read.”
Same goes double for me.
Despite the unflinching (and way too believable) horrors, I never once wanted to stop reading. And — even while couched in the harsh reality of what we’re facing — I still wanted to slow down towards the end. Even after so much time with these characters — and Markley is as masterful as it gets when with character and story — I wasn’t ready to leave them or their stories.
You read that right: nearly 900 pages and I wanted more.
As I closed the book, I was overwhelmed with a sense of hope — and love — for humanity’s potential…things I didn’t fully anticipate feeling for much of the turbulent bulk of the story.
I could write SO much more about f*cking fantastic characters, the wildly varied settings, the scientific research and imagined political puzzling… the relationships, the lives of the storms, the collaborative solutions and the planetary arc of the climate’s character… the unexpected humor and jarringly gorgeous prose… but I really just want you to read it so…
For now, I’ll end by saying I appreciated that Markley made me think deeply about why we tell stories and why we read (I thought about that often as I turned the pages).
And I thought a lot about the an invaluable role of art in cultivating ideas and productive discourse around humanity’s greatest challenge.
This story, even in showing how fear can motivate our darkest behaviors, also shows that our strange, complicated, messy-as-f*ck species is still worth fighting for. It’s an important reminder as we hurdle — together — through the galaxy on this precious gift of a (currently) habitable planet.
The Deluge, by Stephen Markley, published by Simon & Schuster.
If you’re a book-lover I share book reviews @openbookwithlight — my all-things-bookish account on Instagram.
And if you’ve read The Deluge or have other cli-fi books (or other entertainment) to recommend, please share your thoughts below. I’ll be sharing more here, and I’m always interested to hear what’s been capturing people’s attention.
Dang. This isn't my usual type of read but it does sound compelling. I actually think my husband might like it, I feel like I'll be adding this to our personal library soon! Thanks for sharing.