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Where the Wild Books Are: A Field Guide to Ecofiction
As interest in environmental issues grows, many writers of fiction have embraced themes that explore the connections between humans and the natural world. Ecologically themed fiction ranges from profound philosophical meditations to action-packed entertainments. Where the Wild Books Are offers an overview of nearly 2,000 works of nature-oriented fiction. The author includes a discussion of the precursors and history of the genre, and of its expansion since the 1970s. He also considers its forms and themes, as well as the subgenres into which it has evolved, such as speculative fiction, ecodefense, animal stories, mysteries, ecofeminist novels, cautionary tales, and others. A brief summary and critical commentary of each title is included. Dwyer’s scope is broad and covers fiction by Native American writers as well as ecofiction from writers around the world. Far more than a mere listing of books, Where the Wild Books Are is a lively introduction to a vast universe of engaging, provocative writing. It can be used to develop book collections or curricula. It also serves as an introduction to one of the most fertile areas of contemporary fiction, presenting books that will offer enjoyable reading and new insights into the vexing environmental questions of our time.
- GenresBooks About Books
278 pages, Paperback
First published December 15, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 1, 2020
Just what I needed, a lot more titles and authors to add to my to-read list! But this book is really a treasure for those like me who love fiction with wilderness and environmental themes. The author catalogues books by genre, and there are many genres included here, such as Eco-fantasy,Eco-science fiction, Eco-feminism, Eco-mysteries, and series, and many others. I had read many of them, but I did add quite a number to my list of priorities to look for.
February 16, 2019
+++ A literary survey of ecofiction? Sure, I'm interested. But...
--- Over-reaching definition makes the findings both too many and not too interesting.
--- Very curious treatment of authorship by gender, but not (much) by other traits protected by law or known as under-represented in the writing industry in general. Good for feminists, some could say, but there is no winner when many are forgotten.
--- Curious selection of books such as The Man in the High Castle, The Metamorphosis, and others that have at best a little overlap with ecology, and surely not by design from the author.
--- Very poor coverage of international literature. On the one hand, Japan gets a very shallow treatment, with ecological masterpieces such as Hayao Miyazaki's manga and related myriad of options dismissed. On the other hand, Romania's writers under Communism present indeed a version of pastoral life, but Marin Preda's Moromeții is about the personal turmoil caused by rapid industrialization and not about ecology, of human suffering rather than its relationship with nature, although there is some sprinkling of how nature is affected.
+/--- I did find a few interesting names, but the book was not more helpful than simply browsing Wikipedia for the topic. This is because the presentation consists of long lists of names, of authors and of books, interspersed with very brief descriptions of some of the items (selected for obscure criteria).
--- Over-reaching definition makes the findings both too many and not too interesting.
--- Very curious treatment of authorship by gender, but not (much) by other traits protected by law or known as under-represented in the writing industry in general. Good for feminists, some could say, but there is no winner when many are forgotten.
--- Curious selection of books such as The Man in the High Castle, The Metamorphosis, and others that have at best a little overlap with ecology, and surely not by design from the author.
--- Very poor coverage of international literature. On the one hand, Japan gets a very shallow treatment, with ecological masterpieces such as Hayao Miyazaki's manga and related myriad of options dismissed. On the other hand, Romania's writers under Communism present indeed a version of pastoral life, but Marin Preda's Moromeții is about the personal turmoil caused by rapid industrialization and not about ecology, of human suffering rather than its relationship with nature, although there is some sprinkling of how nature is affected.
+/--- I did find a few interesting names, but the book was not more helpful than simply browsing Wikipedia for the topic. This is because the presentation consists of long lists of names, of authors and of books, interspersed with very brief descriptions of some of the items (selected for obscure criteria).
January 26, 2018
Finally got around to reading Jim Dwyer's "Where the Wild Books are: a field guide to ecofiction." Jim takes the reader on a tour through the world of contemporary fiction dealing with nature, wilderness, native Americans, ecology, and all sorts of related topics. His philosophical muse takes on the spirit of Edward Abbey's Monkey Wrench Gang, leading him (and us) on a voyage both back and forward through the roots and branches of writing that inspired Abbey and the novels that were to follow. Thanks to Jim, I've got a lot of wonderful titles added to my 'to read' list which should keep me going for decades. Rev. Moondog, you are missed by many!
September 6, 2017
Essential reading for readers, writers and reviewers of the evolving form known as ecofiction, with an arc of analysis from Herman Melville to Barbara Kingsolver.
April 21, 2020
Too broad for pinpointing Ecofiction. Just about any fiction fits under Dwyer's definitions. A little frustrating when really would like a good reference book on this topic.
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October 14, 2017A good book! It has motivated me to read more of green fiction. I also admit the book has helped me organize some ideas in my head and fill other gaps in my ecocritical knowledge.
"Ecofiction" is the big word in this book. So, what the author in this book is basically doing is simply introducing an overview of nearly every ecological themed fiction book. In a critical way, the author lists and gives a very short summary on each title. Ecofiction’s golden age started in the 1970s. And as you might want to know, there are varied subject categories in contemporary ecofiction: philosophical fiction, Animal fiction, Ecofeminist fiction, Ecodefense fiction, the contemporary pastoral, and dystopian fiction...
"Ecofiction" is the big word in this book. So, what the author in this book is basically doing is simply introducing an overview of nearly every ecological themed fiction book. In a critical way, the author lists and gives a very short summary on each title. Ecofiction’s golden age started in the 1970s. And as you might want to know, there are varied subject categories in contemporary ecofiction: philosophical fiction, Animal fiction, Ecofeminist fiction, Ecodefense fiction, the contemporary pastoral, and dystopian fiction...
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews