The Great Transition: A Novel

Summary

For fans of Station Eleven and The Ministry for the Future, this richly imaginative, immersive, and “electrifyingly relevant” (William Kent Krueger, New York Times bestselling author) climate utopia novel follows a family navigating a crisis both personal and political, illuminating humanity’s capacity for change.

What happens after we save the world?

In the near future, humanity hasn’t avoided the worst of climate change—wildfires, rising oceans, mass migration, and skyrocketing inequality have become the daily reality. But just as everything is collapsing, remarkably, a movement of workers, migrants, and refugees inspires the world to band together, save the planet, and rebuild a society for all. This is The Great Transition.

Teenager Emi Vargas was born into a utopia, compared to the world known by previous generations. Her parents have suffered and sacrificed, playing pivotal roles in rebuilding society, but now, in quieter times, their marriage is deteriorating. When Emi’s mother goes missing amidst renewed political upheaval, Emi’s illusion of comfort and safety is shattered.

Alternating between Emi’s suspenseful search for her mother and a jaw-dropping rendering of The Great Transition itself as Emi’s mother and father battle the devastation brought by climate change, help save the planet, and fall in love, The Great Transition is a heartrending story of one family that unfolds against the backdrop of a harrowing, but, ultimately, hopeful commentary on our future.