The genre of fiction that has really aced environmentalism is the one that has, on the face of it, the least to do with harsh reality. From The Lord of the Rings to Game of Thrones, fantasy has vividly conveyed the threat of environmental destruction.

Why fantasy has often handled environmentalism better than science fiction

This essay was published in Arc , a sadly short-lived spin-off from New Scientist , in 2014. Arc was a wild blend of short stories, essays, criticism and general interestingness, created and edited...