Poll #59: Do You Like Environmentalist Fiction?

[Shaun]

I recently finished a book with a heavy environmentalist message and I wanted to toss this question to you all to see what you think. There are a few options to choose from for a reason, since simply having yes and no would be too simple for what I consider to be a somewhat contentious topic.

Make sure to leave a message here letting us know what you chose and why.

[sXe_Jinxeh]

My thing with enviromental fiction, is it cannot be preachy. Like, it has to have a good plotline, good characters--and the entire thing can't be like, don't hurt the enviroment. It's bad. Make it interesting, don't make me want to set it on fire. o.O

[Hannah_Scotland]

Uh...yeah. Considering I want to study Environmental Tech at university, I love to hear any views on it, ficiton or non-fiction.

Preach to me all you like.

[Jack]

Nope, I do not like environmentalist fiction. The reason being that I do not like environmentalists. :) I find them preachy, and I cannot be bothered to discuss it in detail but, I am pretty sure we have little to do with the way our environment is today.

[johnroyal]

Meh. The only book I've read that did this was some Maximum Ride book my lady made me read. It was pretty, well, you know, fun, up until the end. Maximum Ride isn't exactly a literary series. But it had wild comic book ideas. Then the book ends with the character giving a long like eight page speech on Global Warming, which seemed totally out of left field.
I don't really like any books that end up being propaganda for things like that. Besides social ideas, I guess.
I'm going for no.

[Gabby]

Oh no, there's books like that? 0_o I tired of every one be environmentally crazy. We do not need it infused with our precious books.

I don't like it because, well I hear about it every single day, and I get tired of it. And, a good plot line with that in it, would be rare to come by. Unless I read an amazing book with that in it, I won't be satisfied.

[jordanisonfire]

I wasn't aware it existed. I've seen elements of environmentalism in books, but I didn't know there was actually a genre. Anyway, I suppose I don't like it. I'm still sceptical on global warming, even if it is happening, we may not be causing it. The Earth's temperature going up has happened before. Or it could be the Earth coming out of the ice age its currently in (if Shaun sees this, I'm sure he'll argue against what I just said).

[Jack]

I wasn't aware it existed. I've seen elements of environmentalism in books, but I didn't know there was actually a genre. Anyway, I suppose I don't like it. I'm still sceptical on global warming, even if it is happening, we may not be causing it. The Earth's temperature going up has happened before. Or it could be the Earth coming out of the ice age its currently in (if Shaun sees this, I'm sure he'll argue against what I just said).

I agree completely Shad. I am not sure how much of an impact us all reducing are Co2 levels and recycling everything we can will have on the Earth. At least not now.

[Zombified]

I do like it.
Hell, I've written songs and stories about stuff like that before.

How people can deny that our planet's resources are being depleted or that the polar ice caps are melting or that if we don't change soon we'll pay for it is beyond me. But then again, you can just chalk that up to my California musician hippie talk since Global Warming isn't happening right? :)

[jordanisonfire]

I agree completely Shad. I am not sure how much of an impact us all reducing are Co2 levels and recycling everything we can will have on the Earth. At least not now.

Unless governments actually FORCE people to stop producing so much CO2, recycle everything that can possibly be recycled (cos lets face it, if we don't, then the resources are gonna plummet) and stop dumping waste everywhere, the world ain't gonna be saved like the environmentalists want it to be. So, our future looks pretty damn grim. Plus, we got all these wars going on, with the superpowers at each others necks, looks like WWIII is gonna happen in the next decade or so.

[Simmi]

I think the only book I've read that could classify as environmentalist fiction is The Final Warning by James Patterson. It was... the fourth book in the Maximum Ride series, I think.
I, personally, thought it was one of the most boring books in the series, but I guess he was trying to open our eyes to global warming in an exciting way.

[Iridescence]

I don't mind an environmentalist message in fiction, so long as it's not preachy, as was said before. If you're going to place a message like that in a story, it should be slipped in, not shoved at us. It should be addressed in such a way that the reader can understand that it is an underlying theme. If it detracts from the plot, I won't read it. However, I'm not sure that I could read a fiction completely immersed in environmentalism. The constant prodding would get annoying. Still...if the message is twisted around (say, for example, so that it's more fantasy than realistic), then I could endure it. As for the Maximum Ride series, I started the first book, but I had no idea that it contained environmentalist themes...O_o

Regarding the debate on whether global warming exists or not...I suppose it does, though I don't feel like looking up facts to support my statement. :P However, whatever happens, happens. I'm all for alternate energy and the like. No argument here.

[Zombified]

Facts?
Look here---http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/12/1206_041206_global_warming.html

Here---http://globalwarming.sdsu.edu/

And here---http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=1011

There's no debate. Scientists all agree it is happening. If it is addressed in a book, I am all for it.

[Writing_for_a_life]

I think it is important to learn about our environment but a book, based on the environmental problems(global warming , air pollution), could be really boring ( for example big useless speeches)

[Jack]

There's no debate. Scientists all agree it is happening. If it is addressed in a book, I am all for it.

The debate isn't really over whether it is happening, but more over whether or nor there is anything we can do to stop it.

[jordanisonfire]

Not all scientists agree. Just the majority. And theres plenty of other feasible arguments out there besides CO2 emissions, even ones that have nothing to do with humans.

[Jack]

Not all scientists agree. Just the majority. And theres plenty of other feasible arguments out there besides CO2 emissions, even ones that have nothing to do with humans.

Global Warming is happening. The global temperature of the Earth is rising. Any scientists that disagree are...well, stupid. And whether or not it is to do with CO2 emissions isn't the point, it is still Global Warming. I, myself, don't believe it is much to do with humans.

[jordanisonfire]

I never said I didn't believe in Global Warming. I was just saying not all scientists agree.

[Jack]

I never said I didn't believe in Global Warming. I was just saying not all scientists agree.

Umm...yes. I know.

[jordanisonfire]

Ah, right, it just seemed like you were accusing me of not believing in it.

[madhatter58]

I think that it's good some people (for instance, James Patterson, in the fourth book I believe) try to involve Global Warming into stories, but I only like it if it's well-written with a good plot and good characters. If it's all about Global Warming, count me out. I don't like it in most books though, I get preached to about it enough at school as it is.

[Phantom]

I like it as long as they aren't preaching it.

[Clawfire]

Yes, but only if handled well, like warriors if that's one of them. If not, no, I don't think so.

[FayGee]

I like it as long as they aren't preaching it.

I agree!