[On May 10, 2021 Strange Horizons officially expressed its political support for Palestinian solidarity. The views of Tangent Online reviewers are not necessarily those of Strange Horizons. Fiction critiqued at Tangent Online is, as much as is humanly possible, without prejudice and based solely on artistic merit.]

Strange Horizons, October 17, 2022

“Born from the Drowning Forest” by James Rowland

Reviewed by Victoria Silverwolf

“Born from the Drowning Forest” by James Rowland takes place in a near future of greatly increased temperatures and rising sea levels. The narrator and her husband move to an island off the coast of Scotland to escape the heat. Knowing that this is only a temporary refuge, they decide not to have children.

Over the next few years, the narrator receives visits from a girl who proves to be the daughter of an alternate version of herself. The girl’s world is not suffering from climate change, but she has her own problems. The two become close, and make a decision about their futures.

The author writes in a clear and vivid style, making the story’s speculative content seem very real. The plot has strong emotional appeal, and both the narrator and the girl are fully developed characters. Unlike some fiction dealing with climate change, this quiet and gentle work avoids melodrama. Paradoxically, this makes one think about the potential threat more seriously than if one had read a tale of apocalyptic disaster.

Victoria Silverwolf is getting new windows installed in her house.