Here is a mind-expanding collection of thirty-four original short stories on the human impact of climate change. We all know the science of global climate change, or at least have read about it. But how is climate change affecting the human condition as it is experienced by individuals and communities?

Stories are set in present times as well as the near and distant future.

These stories were selected for publication in an international contest sponsored by the Book Bin, an independent bookstore in Onley, Virginia, and Secant Publishing, an independent publisher in Salisbury, Maryland. The authors represent nine countries and ten states within the U.S.

The Authors

“2100, Remnants of a Thriving World,” B. E. Saunders, Tasmania, Australia.
“Adaptive Solutions,” Karly Foland, Washington, D.C.
“American Mangroves,” Paul Briggs, Easton, Maryland.
“Awakened,” Cindy Diggs, Machipongo, Virginia.
“Beyond the Timberline,” Olaf Lahayne, Vienna, Austria.
“Bitter Almonds,” Andrea Dejean, Castanet-Tolosan, France.
“Blood,” P H Zietsman, Johannesburg, South Africa.
“Blue Cassandra,” Douglas Arvidson, Onancock, Virginia.
“Brownian Motion,” Cedric Rose, Cincinnati, Ohio.
“Collateral Damage,” Jim Coleman, Ridgely, Maryland.
“Deluge,” Tabitha Bast, Bradford, United Kingdom.
“Desert Fish,” K. M. Watson, Sykesville, Maryland.
“Dislocation,” Clare Becker, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
“Don’t Ask,” Kitty Beer, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
“First Can on Mars,” V. M. Sawh, Toronto, Canada.
“In Times of Change, Root Down to Rise Up,” Jessica Marcy, Dublin, Ireland.
“Landslide,” Catherine Chaddic, Exmore, Virginia.
“Leave No Trace,” Lee Clontz, Decatur, Georgia.
“Lookout Point,” Benedict Joseph Amato, Fishkill, New York.
“My Dearest Daughter,” C. B. Buzz, Bend, Oregon.
“Noah’s Great Rainbow,” A. A. Rubin, East Williston, New York.
“Planet Suite,” Martin Phillips, Cullompton, United Kingdom.
“Plant Man,” Maura A. Morgan, Greenville, South Carolina.
“Raymond and Ruby,” Ian Inglis, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
“RISE,” Melody Cooper, Los Angeles, California.
“Sea Burial,” Lee Nash, Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire, France.
“Symbiosis,” Brian Brennan, Springfield, Virginia.
“The Amuse-Bouche,” Dean K. Engel, Morton Grove, Illinois.
“The Blue Ridge Mountain Tree,” Adjie Henderson, Bronx, New York.
“The Captain of the Fleet,” David Poyer, Franktown, Virginia.
“The Circle City Run,” Tom Sterling, Fairfax, Virginia.
“The Island,” Mary Ethna Black, London, United Kingdom.
“When the Water Starts to Rise,” Jennifer Gryzenhout, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
“Wildfire,” Nicola Billington, Corbridge, United Kingdom

To order the book, go to http://bookbinva.com/home.html or https://secantpublishing.com/product/best-climate-change-stories

Excerpts

Noah’s Great Rainbow – Gold Medal Winner

A. A. Rubin, East Williston, NY

Temperatures are no longer rising. The ice caps have stopped melting. But humanity has ceased to dream. How can we strive for the stars when we cannot see them? What does it mean to reach for the sky when the heavens are so close and so gray? How does a generation born in eternal twilight strive for a new dawn?

Desert Fish – Silver Medal Winner

K. M. Watson, Sykesville, Maryland

Valeria’s eyes widened in horror as she watched, stumbling closer to the source of a rising grief. No, not again. The memory that had been deeply buried, that she knew was there but couldn’t  pry loose, now became overwhelming. Her father pushing her to the side of a rocky, narrow desert canyon that her family was crossing. Yelling for her to grab onto nearby brush. The sound of the rainwater building and crashing rapidly down the canyon. Toward her family.

Reviews

“Each story poses a thought-provoking scenario firmly rooted in individual lives and impacts. Each will prompt not only food for thought, but vivid discussions in book groups and classrooms interested in considering climate change impact in different ways….

“The ‘best’ promise is more than fulfilled in a collection that stands out from any other.” – D. Donovan, Midwest Book Review

“All the stories in this collection are absorbing in their own way, and each story has something unique to say about the biggest challenge human civilization has faced in a long, long time. Highly recommended.” – Pikasho Deka, 5-Star Review, Readers’ Favorite