10 Climate Fiction Books by BIPOC Authors to Add to Your TBR
What is climate fiction, and why should you read it?
Climate fiction—also known as cli-fi—is a genre that blends storytelling with the pressing realities of climate change, environmental justice, and our evolving relationship with the Earth. These books often imagine possible futures, explore the human impact of ecological shifts, and center characters who are deeply affected by the world around them.
Whether you love dystopian drama, literary fiction with a cause, or speculative tales with a green twist, climate fiction offers thought-provoking reads that are both urgent and unforgettable. And today, we’re spotlighting climate fiction books by BIPOC authors—because diverse voices bring new layers of meaning to these stories about survival, resilience, and the fight for our future.
Here are some climate fiction reads that belong on your TBR—whether you’re a seasoned eco-reader or just diving into the genre for the first time.
10 Climate Fiction Books by BIPOC Authors
“They Bloom at Night” by Trang Thanh Tran (Horror, YA, LGBTQ+)
Why Read It? A tense eco-horror exploring the aftermath of a devastating hurricane and resulting red algae bloom on the young people of a small Louisiana town. Nails the unique experience of coming of age in a world that is coming apart.
Perfect for fans of: Environmental horror, natural disaster stories, first-gen coming-of-age novels.
“Parable of the Sower” by Octavia Butler (Science Fiction, Afrofuturism)
Why Read It? A dystopian classic that feels eerily relevant today. The US in this novel is plagued by drought and wildfires, contributing to resource scarcity and extreme inequality. Octavia Butler’s visionary storytelling makes this a must-read for sci-fi fans.
Perfect for fans of: Dystopian fiction, thought-provoking sci-fi, social commentary.
“Salvage the Bones” by Jesmyn Ward (Literary Fiction)
Why Read It? A literary fiction novel following a father and his four children living in coastal Mississippi as they prepare for an incoming hurricane. An emotional look at the realities of living in rural poverty and the impact of climate disasters on those who are most vulnerable.
Perfect for fans of: Heart-wrenching family dramas.
“American War” by Omar El-Akkad (Science Fiction, Dystopian)
Why Read It? In the near future world of this science fiction novel, Louisiana is half-underwater, a plague runs rampant, and a second American Civil War has begun. This science fiction novel explores what might happen to a family caught up in what might happen if the country were to turn on itself.
Perfect for fans of: “Moon of the Crusted Snow” by Waubgeshig Rice, “Chain-Gang All-Stars” by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, dystopian war stories.
“Bangkok Wakes to Rain” by Pitchaya Sudbanthad (Literary Fiction)
Why Read It? This series of vignettes reaches from the 19th century to the near future, exploring both the lush history and the climate-threatened path ahead of the Thai capital.
Perfect for fans of: Interconnected short stories, historical fiction, speculative fiction, South Asian fiction.
“The Disaster Tourist” by Yun Ko-Eun (Thriller, Mystery)
Why Read It? An eco-thriller following the journey of a woman working for a travel agency focused on natural disaster and climate change-devastated destinations who is sent to assess the company’s most unprofitable destination.
Perfect for fans of: Critiques of the tourism industry, schadenfreude, Korean literature.
“Fever Dream” by Samanta Schweblin (Literary Fiction, Horror)
Why Read It? This Argentinian novel centers on a young woman and a boy in a hospital clinic who are not related, but together reveal a nightmare.
Perfect for fans of: Surreal and otherworldly stories, magical realism.
“Gun Island” by Amitav Ghosh (Literary Fiction)
Why Read It? This novel explores a world on the brink of climate disaster and the resulting displacement and resilience of those impacted. Navigating themes of immigration, environmental issues, and mysticism.
Perfect for fans of: Immigrant stories, blends of historical and literary fiction.
“The Marrow Thieves” by Cherie Dimaline (Science Fiction, Dystopian, YA)
Why Read It? In this young adult science fiction novel, the world has been ravaged by global warming and people have lost the ability to dream. With only North American Indigenous people still dreaming, the quest for a cure turns to dystopian horrors.
Perfect for fans of: Dystopian young adult series, stories of survival and resilience.
“Land of Milk and Honey” by C Pam Zhang (Science Fiction, Dystopian)
Why Read It? In this science fiction novel, food crops are disappearing as a smog spreads and a chef escapes her dying career in the city to work as a private chef for the elite on a lush mountaintop that remains untouched by the world’s troubles.
Perfect for fans of: Explorations of ethics under capitalism, lush and atmospheric stories.
You can grab these books and more from our Bookshop.org storefront or our Libro.fm storefront:
Final Thoughts: Why Climate Fiction by BIPOC Authors Matters
From futuristic dystopias to deeply human stories about climate and community, these books challenge us to think critically—and creatively—about the world we live in and the one we’re shaping for future generations.
Have you read any of these cli-fi gems? Or do you have a favorite climate fiction book by a BIPOC author we should check out? Drop your recommendations in the comments—we’re always looking to diversify our TBRs with powerful, perspective-shifting reads.
🌱📚 And if you’re ready to discover your next favorite book, don’t forget to check out our Blind Date with a Book packages hand-curated with incredible BIPOC authors who are changing the literary landscape—one story at a time.