What do you think?
Rate this book
No More Fairy Tales: Stories to Save the Planet
A collection of inspiring, funny, dark, mysterious, tragic, romantic, dramatic, upbeat and fantastical short stories.
These 24 stories are written by a variety of authors, with the aim to inspire readers with positive visions of what a sustainable society might look like and how we might get there.
The stories are diverse in style, ranging from whodunnits to sci-fi, romance to family drama, comedy to tragedy, and cover a range of solution types from high-tech to nature-based solutions, to more systemic aspects relating to our culture and political economy.
These 24 stories are written by a variety of authors, with the aim to inspire readers with positive visions of what a sustainable society might look like and how we might get there.
The stories are diverse in style, ranging from whodunnits to sci-fi, romance to family drama, comedy to tragedy, and cover a range of solution types from high-tech to nature-based solutions, to more systemic aspects relating to our culture and political economy.
350 pages, Paperback
Published November 21, 2022
10 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
About the author
D.A. Baden
3 books11 followersI work in the area of sustainability and climate change, and the more you know the scarier it is. Like the sun, you can’t look too closely at it, but face to one side, you make your way, because in fact, it’s easy to put everything right. All the solutions are right here, they just have to catch on. Walking lightly and mindfully upon the earth is so doable. I started writing as therapy, with green solutions as the main ingredient, stories to soothe my soul. Then my characters and their stories took over centre stage, leaving the green solutions to season the stew.
I set up the series of free Green Stories writing competitions in 2018 to inspire writers to create positive visions of what a sustainable society might look like, to tell stories that showcase solutions, not just problems. Habitat Man began as an effort to illustrate what a solution-based approach might look like, and then took on a life of its own. At my characters’ insistence, I’m now working on the sequel.
My day job is Professor of Sustainable Practice at the University of Southampton. In addition to my academic publications, I wrote the script for a musical Fidel that was performed in London in 2016, and have written three other screenplays (Knickers, World Cup Wendy and Fidel Castro: My New Boyfriend).
Habitat Man is my first novel. Thank you to all the wonderful people, projects and organisations that inspired this work of mostly fiction. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
I set up the series of free Green Stories writing competitions in 2018 to inspire writers to create positive visions of what a sustainable society might look like, to tell stories that showcase solutions, not just problems. Habitat Man began as an effort to illustrate what a solution-based approach might look like, and then took on a life of its own. At my characters’ insistence, I’m now working on the sequel.
My day job is Professor of Sustainable Practice at the University of Southampton. In addition to my academic publications, I wrote the script for a musical Fidel that was performed in London in 2016, and have written three other screenplays (Knickers, World Cup Wendy and Fidel Castro: My New Boyfriend).
Habitat Man is my first novel. Thank you to all the wonderful people, projects and organisations that inspired this work of mostly fiction. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 22, 2023
*I received a free DRC of this book with thanks to the author/s and Rachel Gilbey at Rachel’s Random Resources blog tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
Not only did this book give me a glimmer of hope for a more sustainable future for our planet, but it did a great job of presenting the many ways we can bring this fiction into reality, complete with facts and figures, scientific data and source materials linked at the end of each story to provide further information on the climate ideas discussed.
This is not to say that these stories are all dry, moralistic and ‘preachy’, because they are not. While a couple of entries got a little bit too detailed to be purely entertaining, the majority include plots that you could easily label as romance or mystery, or some other popular genre, and nearly all have well-rounded and engaging characters that you could believe in and root for.
Some of the stories are standalone short stories, while others are excerpts drawn from larger climate-based works of fiction, but these excerpts all stood alone perfectly well too.
The collection contains a plethora of workable ideas for making positive changes to the ecology of our planet – from rethinking how we use our oceans to how we plant our crops; from citizen juries to carbon credit schemes; and from ocean sovereignty to fire fracking. Some of these solutions involve specialist skills and highly technical knowledge, which felt out of the grasp of a layman reader, but others were straightforward and easy for any of us to access and implement – swapping our cleaning products, setting up and using a ‘library of things’, or repairing rather than replacing our belongings.
This collection should definitely form part of school and university syllabuses, and utilised as a resource wherever environmental policy is discussed. In fact, as I was reading each story I was utterly convinced not only that these ideas could work but I found it hard to believe most of them were not already implemented and an integral part of future global policy. I can only hope the seeds planted here take root and blossom!
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
Not only did this book give me a glimmer of hope for a more sustainable future for our planet, but it did a great job of presenting the many ways we can bring this fiction into reality, complete with facts and figures, scientific data and source materials linked at the end of each story to provide further information on the climate ideas discussed.
This is not to say that these stories are all dry, moralistic and ‘preachy’, because they are not. While a couple of entries got a little bit too detailed to be purely entertaining, the majority include plots that you could easily label as romance or mystery, or some other popular genre, and nearly all have well-rounded and engaging characters that you could believe in and root for.
Some of the stories are standalone short stories, while others are excerpts drawn from larger climate-based works of fiction, but these excerpts all stood alone perfectly well too.
The collection contains a plethora of workable ideas for making positive changes to the ecology of our planet – from rethinking how we use our oceans to how we plant our crops; from citizen juries to carbon credit schemes; and from ocean sovereignty to fire fracking. Some of these solutions involve specialist skills and highly technical knowledge, which felt out of the grasp of a layman reader, but others were straightforward and easy for any of us to access and implement – swapping our cleaning products, setting up and using a ‘library of things’, or repairing rather than replacing our belongings.
This collection should definitely form part of school and university syllabuses, and utilised as a resource wherever environmental policy is discussed. In fact, as I was reading each story I was utterly convinced not only that these ideas could work but I found it hard to believe most of them were not already implemented and an integral part of future global policy. I can only hope the seeds planted here take root and blossom!
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
December 14, 2022
I really enjoyed most of the 24 stories in this eco anthology. One or two had me looking up things because I didn't understand the technical jargon but all in all they were very easy to read, educational but not in a dry, boring, way and oozing with hope for the future.
I read the Kindle version and each story came with a link to find out more about the ideas they raised.
I finished the book feeling a little more hopeful for the future of the planet.
I read the Kindle version and each story came with a link to find out more about the ideas they raised.
I finished the book feeling a little more hopeful for the future of the planet.
May 31, 2023
No More Fairy Tales by D.A. (Denise) Baden.
One of the advantages of a book of short stories is that you can dip in and out of it without losing the continuity of a novel. Furthermore, these stories are written by lots of different authors. So even if I wasn’t getting on with one story I tried another, and often found that one a lot better. I’ve enjoyed many of the No More Fairy Tales stories, which is as much as any writer/editor can hope for. No work of fiction appeals to every reader.
I really like the story by Jenni Clarke. I could see some of the cleaning women I have known in her main character, Marion. She’s so conscientious, so lacking in self-confidence. And I always love a romantic happy ending, while it also raises serious environmental issues. It also reminds me of points made in The economics of arrival (Trebeck and Williams) about the vital, and very much under-valued, role played by cleaners and other people in what they call the foundation economy.
I also like The award ceremony, by Denise herself. Among other attributes it raises the issue of striving for what I term excess ecopurity, at the expense of engaging more people. As does Suck it up, a lovely American Christmas story by Brian Adams, with the Santa figure as the ecopurist! That also brings in the natural vs technological solutions debate, while the romance in the air helps keep the reader interested. Blue nation by Rasha Barrage is another intriguing story, combining the political with the very human. I feel for Neve. Whereas Project slowdown is too technical for me. Two or three others I started to read but gave up on. However the important point is that I as a reader enjoyed quite a few, and I’ll continue to dip in over the next few months when I have a spare few hours.
The crème de crème for me is The assassin, also by Denise Baden. Citizen Juries are being set up, with power to enact legislation. The proviso is that the citizens, a representative cross section of the population, are able to reach consensus on measures to enact. Sarah is the group facilitator who worked so hard to get these juries set up that she lost her lover in the process. The members arrive on day one, ranging from a wealthy, very macho farmer, to an unemployed young man with mental health problems, from an 85 year old grandmother who knits all the time, to a marketing executive who’s just split up with her husband. Various experts are wheeled in to talk about issues like carbon offsetting, personal carbon allowances, repair cafes, on-demand buses. The group debate them, sometimes quite furiously. I particularly liked the library of things discussion, and how it got everybody really engaged. Particularly the very harassed and hard up young father, as he realised he could hire or borrow so much of the expensive stuff that was now cluttering up his house.
As they debated the issues we learned so much about the lives of the different members. While a sense of mystery is maintained by a series of isolated sentences in italics, like
You all think I don’t count.
All is revealed in a dramatic ending. The clue is in the chapter title …
Criticisms? Sarah might have been given more facilitation skills training to handle the inevitable ensuing conflict, given the critical existential questions they’re addressing. At what point in the future are these juries being set up? What kind of government is in power? How will the verdicts of different juries mesh together? Maybe such questions could be answered in a longer story, which I understand Denise intends to write. (In my positive future scenario on handling the climate crisis Unlikely Alliances, I have a benevolent coalition government in power in 2029, and popular energy being harnessed practically at the local level – food growing, repair and maintenance, product and building renovation, etc, with the human dramas playing out over a longer time frame.)
More generally I wonder about the book title. Isn’t there a ‘fairy’ element, i.e. a suspension of reality, in every good story? Isn’t one of the aims to the Southampton University ecostory programme to use fiction to bring the climate and sustainability messages to people who normally wouldn’t read ‘any of that green stuff’? I’d also have left the end of story scientific references for an end chapter.
But overall I’m continuing to enjoy this collection of stories. And isn’t learning more effective when it’s spread out over a longer period of time? Another advantage of a collection of short stories.
Tony Emerson
One of the advantages of a book of short stories is that you can dip in and out of it without losing the continuity of a novel. Furthermore, these stories are written by lots of different authors. So even if I wasn’t getting on with one story I tried another, and often found that one a lot better. I’ve enjoyed many of the No More Fairy Tales stories, which is as much as any writer/editor can hope for. No work of fiction appeals to every reader.
I really like the story by Jenni Clarke. I could see some of the cleaning women I have known in her main character, Marion. She’s so conscientious, so lacking in self-confidence. And I always love a romantic happy ending, while it also raises serious environmental issues. It also reminds me of points made in The economics of arrival (Trebeck and Williams) about the vital, and very much under-valued, role played by cleaners and other people in what they call the foundation economy.
I also like The award ceremony, by Denise herself. Among other attributes it raises the issue of striving for what I term excess ecopurity, at the expense of engaging more people. As does Suck it up, a lovely American Christmas story by Brian Adams, with the Santa figure as the ecopurist! That also brings in the natural vs technological solutions debate, while the romance in the air helps keep the reader interested. Blue nation by Rasha Barrage is another intriguing story, combining the political with the very human. I feel for Neve. Whereas Project slowdown is too technical for me. Two or three others I started to read but gave up on. However the important point is that I as a reader enjoyed quite a few, and I’ll continue to dip in over the next few months when I have a spare few hours.
The crème de crème for me is The assassin, also by Denise Baden. Citizen Juries are being set up, with power to enact legislation. The proviso is that the citizens, a representative cross section of the population, are able to reach consensus on measures to enact. Sarah is the group facilitator who worked so hard to get these juries set up that she lost her lover in the process. The members arrive on day one, ranging from a wealthy, very macho farmer, to an unemployed young man with mental health problems, from an 85 year old grandmother who knits all the time, to a marketing executive who’s just split up with her husband. Various experts are wheeled in to talk about issues like carbon offsetting, personal carbon allowances, repair cafes, on-demand buses. The group debate them, sometimes quite furiously. I particularly liked the library of things discussion, and how it got everybody really engaged. Particularly the very harassed and hard up young father, as he realised he could hire or borrow so much of the expensive stuff that was now cluttering up his house.
As they debated the issues we learned so much about the lives of the different members. While a sense of mystery is maintained by a series of isolated sentences in italics, like
You all think I don’t count.
All is revealed in a dramatic ending. The clue is in the chapter title …
Criticisms? Sarah might have been given more facilitation skills training to handle the inevitable ensuing conflict, given the critical existential questions they’re addressing. At what point in the future are these juries being set up? What kind of government is in power? How will the verdicts of different juries mesh together? Maybe such questions could be answered in a longer story, which I understand Denise intends to write. (In my positive future scenario on handling the climate crisis Unlikely Alliances, I have a benevolent coalition government in power in 2029, and popular energy being harnessed practically at the local level – food growing, repair and maintenance, product and building renovation, etc, with the human dramas playing out over a longer time frame.)
More generally I wonder about the book title. Isn’t there a ‘fairy’ element, i.e. a suspension of reality, in every good story? Isn’t one of the aims to the Southampton University ecostory programme to use fiction to bring the climate and sustainability messages to people who normally wouldn’t read ‘any of that green stuff’? I’d also have left the end of story scientific references for an end chapter.
But overall I’m continuing to enjoy this collection of stories. And isn’t learning more effective when it’s spread out over a longer period of time? Another advantage of a collection of short stories.
Tony Emerson
June 20, 2023
No More Fairy Tales is an anthology of 24 cli-fi stories, with contributions from a number of prominent authors and was released ahead of COP27. The stories were made available for free for COP27 delegates to educate them about the plethora of solutions available and to help inspire climate action.
The cli-fi stories span genres including sci-fi, family drama, romance, comedy, and tragedy. Baden writes in the introduction that the purpose of the anthology is, “to inspire readers with positive visions of what a sustainable society might look like and how we might get there.”
The anthology kicks off with Bacigalupi’s story, Efficiency. This is a story about micro-grids versus the GLA, a corporation that provides energy and is powered by an AI called Lucy. This story is timely due to the rapid developments taking place in the field of AI. In the story, Lucy takes control of vehicles and smart switches to try get James’s dad’s attention. For context, James’s dad set-up the microgrids, and Lucy claims to want to optimise them. Lucy is also interested in self-preservation and is worried that the GLA might switch her off, so she wants to make a copy of herself on a server operated by James’s dad. This mimics some of the concerns around AGI (artificial general intelligence), and deftly weaves both the climate crisis and AI crisis into a page-turning sci-fi thriller story.
Climate Gamers by D.A. Baden, Martin Hastie, and Steve Willis is a unique and clever story about a climate game that has $5m in prize money. Teams compete to stabilise warming at 1.5C, the target agreed in Paris in 2015, by implementing a range of climate solutions. They’re the same choices our leaders face today, but which have yet to be implemented at the pace that the climate emergency demands.
The Assassin by D.A. Baden is in my opinion one of the most important stories in the anthology, with a crucial climate solution to overcome the inertia of our political leaders. It’s about a citizen’s jury (similar to a citizen’s assembly) which has eight people involved. Each of these characters has their own backstory and is dealing with their own challenges. Together they must decide on what solutions humanity should implement to tackle the climate crisis. Some of the solutions mentioned in the story include personal carbon allowances, carbon offsetting, a library of things, on-demand buses, sustainable farming and a wellbeing index.
Howard Gaukrodger’s The Desert Spiral Initiative, is an emotional story about sustainable farming techniques in desert regions. In the story, this technique was going to be applied to grow 50 million trees in the Western Desert (Egypt) and thereby help afforest barren land. The concept of Desert Spirals and drawing on local communities to create and maintain them was fascinating. Solutions like this appear to be a win-win for all concerned.
Saving the Titanics by Steve Willis, Martin Hastie, and D.A. Baden, is the final story in the collection and one of the most interesting. It focuses on the real life story of the Titanic. But it presents ways that the real life story could have turned out differently. In one version, all life onboard is saved because several individuals came together and used their individual skills to come up with a unique solution. In another version, those individuals not only saved everyone onboard, but also managed to save the vessel itself. It showed that by working together and harnessing our unique skills, we can tackle any problem. It also dealt with the subject of eco-anxiety, which is becoming more prevalent as the climate and ecological crises worsen.
Stories have the power to change the world, and reach people in ways that facts simply can’t. Cli-fi therefore has a big role to play in changing minds and attitudes and bringing about climate action. I believe No More Fairy Tales shows how short stories and anthologies can do just that. The way that stories can change minds is explained in No More Fairy Tales, “Fictional role models are especially influential. Through a process that we call narrative transportation, viewers who identify with a character will absorb their values uncritically and subliminally, affecting their behaviour and aspirations without them even being aware of it.”
My full review can be read here: www.ryanmizzen.com/no-more-fairy-tale...
The cli-fi stories span genres including sci-fi, family drama, romance, comedy, and tragedy. Baden writes in the introduction that the purpose of the anthology is, “to inspire readers with positive visions of what a sustainable society might look like and how we might get there.”
The anthology kicks off with Bacigalupi’s story, Efficiency. This is a story about micro-grids versus the GLA, a corporation that provides energy and is powered by an AI called Lucy. This story is timely due to the rapid developments taking place in the field of AI. In the story, Lucy takes control of vehicles and smart switches to try get James’s dad’s attention. For context, James’s dad set-up the microgrids, and Lucy claims to want to optimise them. Lucy is also interested in self-preservation and is worried that the GLA might switch her off, so she wants to make a copy of herself on a server operated by James’s dad. This mimics some of the concerns around AGI (artificial general intelligence), and deftly weaves both the climate crisis and AI crisis into a page-turning sci-fi thriller story.
Climate Gamers by D.A. Baden, Martin Hastie, and Steve Willis is a unique and clever story about a climate game that has $5m in prize money. Teams compete to stabilise warming at 1.5C, the target agreed in Paris in 2015, by implementing a range of climate solutions. They’re the same choices our leaders face today, but which have yet to be implemented at the pace that the climate emergency demands.
The Assassin by D.A. Baden is in my opinion one of the most important stories in the anthology, with a crucial climate solution to overcome the inertia of our political leaders. It’s about a citizen’s jury (similar to a citizen’s assembly) which has eight people involved. Each of these characters has their own backstory and is dealing with their own challenges. Together they must decide on what solutions humanity should implement to tackle the climate crisis. Some of the solutions mentioned in the story include personal carbon allowances, carbon offsetting, a library of things, on-demand buses, sustainable farming and a wellbeing index.
Howard Gaukrodger’s The Desert Spiral Initiative, is an emotional story about sustainable farming techniques in desert regions. In the story, this technique was going to be applied to grow 50 million trees in the Western Desert (Egypt) and thereby help afforest barren land. The concept of Desert Spirals and drawing on local communities to create and maintain them was fascinating. Solutions like this appear to be a win-win for all concerned.
Saving the Titanics by Steve Willis, Martin Hastie, and D.A. Baden, is the final story in the collection and one of the most interesting. It focuses on the real life story of the Titanic. But it presents ways that the real life story could have turned out differently. In one version, all life onboard is saved because several individuals came together and used their individual skills to come up with a unique solution. In another version, those individuals not only saved everyone onboard, but also managed to save the vessel itself. It showed that by working together and harnessing our unique skills, we can tackle any problem. It also dealt with the subject of eco-anxiety, which is becoming more prevalent as the climate and ecological crises worsen.
Stories have the power to change the world, and reach people in ways that facts simply can’t. Cli-fi therefore has a big role to play in changing minds and attitudes and bringing about climate action. I believe No More Fairy Tales shows how short stories and anthologies can do just that. The way that stories can change minds is explained in No More Fairy Tales, “Fictional role models are especially influential. Through a process that we call narrative transportation, viewers who identify with a character will absorb their values uncritically and subliminally, affecting their behaviour and aspirations without them even being aware of it.”
My full review can be read here: www.ryanmizzen.com/no-more-fairy-tale...
February 22, 2023
We are living through a time where we are facing a climate emergency, and we must all play our part in protecting our beautiful planet. Not just for the humans who will come after us, but for all species of animals and plants, and for the health of the ocean. The No More Fairy Tales anthology is a wonderful collection of short stories which each have the climate and the state of our Earth as their focus. Through different genres and voices the authors bring new perspectives to the situation, and I think that there is something for every reader in this book.
D.A. Baden writes that the “…Focus is on…solutions” and this is absolutely what these stories set out to demonstrate. That there are solutions and that together we must find them, we must open our minds to new technologies and ways of living that reduce the imprint we are leaving on the planet.
Having read them all, it’s very hard to pick just a couple of stories that stand out. The one that has been replaying in my mind as being effective in connecting a range of ages including young people is Climate Gamers. I don’t want to give too much away but this narrative cleverly intertwines familiar gaming and science fiction elements with a realistic storyline. The second story that really struck a chord for me was The Award Ceremony. Again this combined a realistic storyline with a deep centred message to demonstrate who we are as individuals and stay true to our values.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more or broadening their understanding of the crisis that faces us.
D.A. Baden writes that the “…Focus is on…solutions” and this is absolutely what these stories set out to demonstrate. That there are solutions and that together we must find them, we must open our minds to new technologies and ways of living that reduce the imprint we are leaving on the planet.
Having read them all, it’s very hard to pick just a couple of stories that stand out. The one that has been replaying in my mind as being effective in connecting a range of ages including young people is Climate Gamers. I don’t want to give too much away but this narrative cleverly intertwines familiar gaming and science fiction elements with a realistic storyline. The second story that really struck a chord for me was The Award Ceremony. Again this combined a realistic storyline with a deep centred message to demonstrate who we are as individuals and stay true to our values.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more or broadening their understanding of the crisis that faces us.
December 29, 2022
This is an interesting collection of short stories from various different authors focusing on climate change and the environment. The short stories are the kind that will provoke many different types of discussions and is definitely one I would recommend for a group reading/ read along/ book club type thing.
There are 24 stories altogether and I enjoyed most of them, some of them were a bit beyond me and I didn’t quite understand everything that was being said but that didn’t make me enjoy it any less. I liked the diversity in the stories and most kept me interested and engaged.
Overall, well written and informative, the book clubs need to pick this one up!
There are 24 stories altogether and I enjoyed most of them, some of them were a bit beyond me and I didn’t quite understand everything that was being said but that didn’t make me enjoy it any less. I liked the diversity in the stories and most kept me interested and engaged.
Overall, well written and informative, the book clubs need to pick this one up!
February 21, 2023
📚review📚48th book finished in 2023
No more Fairy Tales stories to save our planet - multiple authors
Thank you so much D.A. Baden and Rachel’s random resources for gifting us a copy of 'No more fairy tales' in exchange for an honest review.
This is a really interesting collection of 24 stories in an anthology style that aim to inspire the world to change societal views on climate change. The stories and excerpts used are a mixture of styles from funny to dramatic to dark all drawing back to the common theme.
My favourite was Drambers by Kim Stanley Robinson.
#giftedbook #booktour #gifted
No more Fairy Tales stories to save our planet - multiple authors
Thank you so much D.A. Baden and Rachel’s random resources for gifting us a copy of 'No more fairy tales' in exchange for an honest review.
This is a really interesting collection of 24 stories in an anthology style that aim to inspire the world to change societal views on climate change. The stories and excerpts used are a mixture of styles from funny to dramatic to dark all drawing back to the common theme.
My favourite was Drambers by Kim Stanley Robinson.
#giftedbook #booktour #gifted
January 16, 2024
Very glad to be introduced to No More Fairy Tales at COP28. I really enjoyed this original book and hopefully it will inspire more authors to write creative stories on opportunities to solve the climate crisis. The title is very poignant and impactful, borrowed from Greta Thunberg’s famous ‘How Dare You’ 2019 speech. The more communications on climate change available the better and this book and others to follow provide a comprehensive and accessible text for an audience of avid readers interested in learning more about the existential crisis and the ways to take action. Thank you to Denise, Steve and all the authors and contributors.
June 18, 2024
"No More Fairy Tales: Stories to Save the Planet" focuses on imaginative solutions instead of dwelling on dystopian futures.
Twenty-four stories by different authors ensure a range of tones and styles, from whimsical to suspenseful.
I love the book's emphasis on positive action. The stories don't shy away from environmental challenges, but they focus on the power of human ingenuity and collaboration. This optimistic outlook is refreshing and inspiring, leaving readers with a sense of possibility.
Twenty-four stories by different authors ensure a range of tones and styles, from whimsical to suspenseful.
I love the book's emphasis on positive action. The stories don't shy away from environmental challenges, but they focus on the power of human ingenuity and collaboration. This optimistic outlook is refreshing and inspiring, leaving readers with a sense of possibility.
February 8, 2023
A good selection of stories to help raise environment awareness. Some complex terminology and I found the first story didn't grab my attention as it was too wordy with terminology. I didn't connect with the characters. Some good visuals.
An interesting concept for a short story collection.
Thanks to D.A. Baden and Rachel's Random Resources for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
An interesting concept for a short story collection.
Thanks to D.A. Baden and Rachel's Random Resources for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
March 29, 2023
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this book and these stories but soon found myself completely engrossed.
Full of so much more than I was expecting. Each story is a great read, but I did have my favorites.
Full of so much more than I was expecting. Each story is a great read, but I did have my favorites.
March 9, 2023
Impeccably written, relentlessly engaging, this is a wonderful compellation with each being where the reader wants and needs to be.
Powerful themes and so much more.
Powerful themes and so much more.
March 16, 2023
A collection of stories in which each holds their own. I was engaged with each one in different ways. I liked the layout and the writing style and flow. Great anthology.
April 7, 2024
A great collection of inspiring stories.
July 1, 2025
No More Fairy Tales is such a refreshing and inspiring read. It’s a collection of short stories that tackle climate change—but not in the usual doom-and-gloom way. Instead, these stories are full of creative, optimistic visions of how we could tackle the challenges we face. There’s such a variety of genres and styles, and each one left me thinking, “Yes, this is possible!”
I loved how accessible the stories were—some are funny, some emotional, some more speculative—but they all offer hopeful glimpses into futures shaped by better decisions, technology, and community action. It's not about perfect utopias, but real, human solutions.
You don’t have to be a climate expert to enjoy it. Whether you’re someone already working in sustainability or just feeling overwhelmed by the news, these stories remind you that imagination and action go hand in hand.
I found it uplifting, energising, and a great conversation starter. Perfect for book clubs, classrooms, or anyone needing a boost of climate optimism. I’ll definitely be revisiting it and recommending it to others!
I loved how accessible the stories were—some are funny, some emotional, some more speculative—but they all offer hopeful glimpses into futures shaped by better decisions, technology, and community action. It's not about perfect utopias, but real, human solutions.
You don’t have to be a climate expert to enjoy it. Whether you’re someone already working in sustainability or just feeling overwhelmed by the news, these stories remind you that imagination and action go hand in hand.
I found it uplifting, energising, and a great conversation starter. Perfect for book clubs, classrooms, or anyone needing a boost of climate optimism. I’ll definitely be revisiting it and recommending it to others!
May 9, 2023
I love this book because it shows how we can save our lovely planet. Each story has climate solutions at their heart. Some are nature-based like planting sea grass. Some are technical, such as like bringing water to the desert and carbon capture. Some are audacious like refreezing the Arctic. Several focus on our political economy like switching from the GDP to a wellbeing index or citizen assemblies to ensure climate friendly decision making. Some are incredibly innovative like giving the Ocean nation-status. Genres range from romance to action, family drama to whodunit. They are 24 stories so something for everyone and each story links to a webpage where you can find out how to make them happen. It’s also great value.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews