Solarpunk Books That Imagine a More Hopeful Future

The Dispossessed goes in the opposite direction and examines solarpunk from a more philosophical angle, demonstrating what kind of society could exist even on a brutal, harsh world when humankind lives collaboratively and within its limits. Humans have to manage resources with the utmost care, reduce waste to the absolute minimum, and organize labor around need rather than profit.

Even though it doesn’t fit the lush greenery and warmth of the solarpunk aesthetic, I think this book absolutely embodies the genre’s spirit.

New York 2140 doesn’t start us off in a solarpunk world where nature thrives, but instead shows us how much work it will likely take to build in that direction. In 2140, sea levels have risen, skyscrapers have been turned into co-op housing, and everyone is sharing resources and helping each other out in order to survive the slow destruction of the world as they know it.

I loved the examination on society’s collective resilience, and how it’s the human bonds that are strongest in times of hardship and disaster. It also does a great job of showing how things could get better if we all work together to improve our world, rather than trying to conquer our little piece of it. That’s my kind of optimism!

If you’ve read The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, then you know exactly what kind of cozy-feeling sci-fi Becky Chambers writes. A Psalm for the Wild-Built continues in the same vein, only this time going solarpunk, in a post-industrial world where nature has reclaimed what was destroyed and all technology is low-impact and renewable. This story follows a monk searching for purpose and a robot whose entire function is to serve tea trying to answer the question, “What do humans need?” And yes, it’s exactly as heartwarming and cozy as it sounds.  

In Pacific Edge, this futuristic California is powered by solar energy, agriculture thrives, land restoration is the priority, and the communities are tight-knit. What makes this one so unique is that it actually looks into the policies and politics that could make sustainable living…well, sustainable. You may not think that learning about zoning laws or land use battles can be interesting, but I promise this book will prove you wrong. It’s a fascinating look at how delicate the balance can be to live a solarpunk life, and how easily everything can be upset.  

Let’s be clear: Parable of the Sower isn’t exactly solarpunk. Rather, I’d say it’s a perfect example of everything that could drive humanity to want a solarpunk world. It’s a bleak story of climate collapse, the breakdown of modern society, and the horrors of surviving in a world where all laws and societal norms have been shattered. But it’s through the darkness that the spark of hope shines brightest as we watch small groups cooperate and work together to protect each other, build trust, and carve out a new place in this grim world. Call it the “best first step” toward solarpunk!

Always Coming Home is one of the earliest progenitors to the solarpunk genre. In this story, the Kesh aren’t just using nature, but see themselves as part of it, with the land shaping their culture rather than the other way around. Their civilization is made up of a network of communities and villages rather than megacities, with the highly advanced technology existing in this world serving the background function of sustaining nature, not invading and overriding it. Don’t get me wrong: it’s not as plot-driven as a lot of sci-fi, but the slower pacing and the abundance of songs, myths, and personal stories woven throughout the book make it something truly unique.