As the creeping destruction wrought by climate change escalates and political antagonism and public apathy deepen, finding the right story to catalyze change is more urgent than ever. Join ASU’s Imagination and Climate Futures Initiative for a talk with New York Times-bestselling author Kim Stanley Robinson, “The Comedy of Coping: Alarm and Resolve in Climate Fiction” on Wednesday, September 20, 2017 at the Phoenix Art Museum at 7:00 pm. After the talk, Robinson will take questions from the audience and sign books. This event is open to the public and free.
In the talk, Robinson will trace the threads of story and science that he wove together to create his latest novel, New York 2140, a scientifically-grounded exploration of climate chaos, its long aftermath, and the enduring forces of culture and community. He will also argue that we need to renounce apocalyptic thinking, even when it feels most irresistible. What can stories do in the face of impending calamity? How can fiction authors balance their urges to unsettle and inspire? How can literature be part of an affirmative response to existential risk?
Parking: Free parking is available in the shared lot between the Phoenix Art Museum and the Phoenix Theater, with additional parking on surrounding side-streets.