Review of Almanac for the Anthropocene by Phoebe Wager & Brontë Christopher Wieland
Phoebe Wagner and Brontë Christopher Wieland are known for firsts when it comes to solarpunk. Their short story anthology, Sunvault: Stories of Solarpunk and Eco-Speculation, was the first work of self-described solarpunk fiction published in the English language. That book is still a must-read for anyone who interested in the solarpunk genre.
Now, Wagner and Wieland have gone and done it again. Their recently published, Almanac for the Anthropocene: A Compendium of Solarpunk Futures, is the first ever solarpunk nonfiction anthology.
The articles in this anthology are separated out into four sections that capture the spirit of solarpunk. The theme of the first section is “Generativity.” The Commando Jugendstil and Tales from the EV Studio write about solarpunk as overtly political genre, and the importance of keeping it that way. Margaret Killjoy talks about generating hope in a dystopian world. This opening section also has an article by Giulia Lepori and Michał Krawczyk on imagination, and the section closes out with survey of important solarpunk themes by Christoph D. D. Rupprecht.
Section two focuses on “Independence.” Wieland’s introduction to the section tackles topics like dual-power, food sovereignty, and ending the prison industrial complex. Gabriel Aliaga takes on issue effects of mining on the planet, and Navarre Bartz discusses solarpunk design principles. Kris De Decker teaches about building a solar powered website, and for those who love to travel, Craig Stevenson looks at ways to see the world without destroying it.
