In this talk, Toliver explores how speculative fiction addresses climate change and social inequality through Sherri L. Smith’s Orleans and Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower. Both novels depict dystopian futures shaped by environmental collapse and social fragmentation, with marginalized communities bearing the brunt. Orleans highlights Fen’s struggle for survival in a devastated Gulf Coast, while Parable of the Sower follows Lauren Olamina through a fractured California, showcasing resilience against systemic injustice. Toliver reveals how these works not only critique our current path but also challenge us to envision bold, just, and sustainable futures.
This event is hosted by EPOL and the University of Minnesota's Center for Climate Literacy.
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