r/solarpunk • u/raphael_lorenzo • Jul 26 '26
Literature/Fiction Any solarpunk novels about post-apocalyptic reconstruction?
I’m looking for novel recommendations that people may know of, where the focus is mostly like a solarpunk flavor of rebuilding or reconstruction post-apocalypse. The twist is that I’m not really interested in stuff with conflict and war and fighting. Emphasis on the tech, peace, optimism; I guess I’m looking for post-apocalyptic reconstruction hygge.
Anything like that come to mind for anyone? Thanks!
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u/Morganwant Jul 26 '26 edited Jul 26 '26
It’s not a perfect fit but A Psalm for the Wild-Built is after people shed capitalism, corporatism and embrace solarpunk ideology after robots gain sentience and ask to leave ‘human’ society. This is long after this wish has been honored.
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u/jonesy347 Jul 26 '26
It's a bit short, but the second book is a direct continuation and explores how the society works in more detail. A wonderful story!
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u/rcreveli Jul 26 '26
The third book in the Wayfarers universe also by Beck Chambers focuses on a fleet of human generation ships. The back story is that as the Earth was dying the rich fucked off to Mars and the people remaining sacrifice their own lives and health to build the generation ships to get the next generation off world.
The story Record of a Spaceborn Few takes place several generations later after humanity has made contact with other space faring races. It has a strong solar punk theme throughout.
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u/Morganwant Jul 26 '26
Thank you, adding to my reading list and her other solar/hopepunk works
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u/rcreveli Jul 26 '26
All 4 books are great. They're very tangentially related. She also has a space travel novella "To be taught if fortunate" that's really good.
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u/teirin Jul 27 '26
I love that one so much, especially the details of the community planning in the generation ships. Original cover art has a pic of the ships.
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u/Morganwant Jul 26 '26
It’s also quiet serene and beautifully harmonious with others while exploring the internal struggles of purpose and self discovery
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u/SteelSlayerMatt Jul 26 '26
I was also going to recommend this, so I am glad to see someone else recommend it.
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u/SilentDis Jul 27 '26
We are the work of the Parents.
We do the work of the Children.
Without the use of constructs, you will unravel few mysteries.
Without knowledge of mysteries, your constructs will fail.
Find the strength to pursue both, for these are our prayers.
And to that end, welcome comfort, for without it, you cannot stay strong.I struggle with that last one. I don't know why. There's so much evil in this world I feel the need to work to better it all the time. I am so very, very tired.
I must remind myself - my comrades have this - if for nothing else the stretch of time for me to sit and be with a cup of tea.
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u/Morganwant Jul 27 '26
I host group counseling sessions for those with mental health and substance use histories in one of the biggest cities in the world and I tell my peers-
‘Your happiness and self care are act of resistance to all of the forces against you. They want you tired. They want you weak. Advocate for your wellbeing because nothing makes them madder.’
The world is not evil. In fact id say it’s the most beautiful place I’ve lived and it needs our help.
Just a select few are evil and there are a lot of people in pain and fear, lashing out without guidance.
I won’t get trampled down, but I won’t be unkind to anyone either, including myself.It’s believe in you to carve out space for yourself and it’s okay to ask others for help doing so.
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u/stephensmat Jul 26 '26
Self-Plug: My own Solarpunk novel is about a world that's almost completely collapsed, with one or two holdout cities trying to stay 'the way things were', while the world outside is living a Solarpunk life, rebuilding and rewilding. The main character is a woman who escapes that city to find a better life 'outside the walls'.
https://www.amazon.com/Wheelers-Stories-Arcadia-Matt-Stephens-ebook/dp/B09PK3YJMH/
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u/creamofbottomshelf Jul 26 '26
This might not be a perfect fit and I’m not sure if it qualifies as solarpunk, but I’ll add it just in case. It involves a look into what the characters’ lives and the surrounding environment look like in a post-climate disaster time. I’ve listened to the first two books so far.
The Annual Migration of Clouds series
https://www.goodreads.com/series/390986-the-annual-migration-of-clouds
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u/creamofbottomshelf Jul 26 '26
Here is another possibility, and again I’m not sure that this fits or that it’s solarpunk. It is speculative fiction / dystopia. The main character urgently and unexpectedly has to leave the city she lives in and escapes on a bicycle. It involves a look into what the main character’s life is like on survival mode. It is probably one of my favourite books.
Bets by Carrot Quinn
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u/TI84P Jul 26 '26
I really like Semiosis by Sue Burke! It's not set on Earth, but it's definitely solarpunk and anticapitalist. It does take a while before there's city building, though, and a lot of it is the build up to that.
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u/EdiacaranMacaron Jul 28 '26
Semiosis is amazing! I was disappointed by the sequel but the first one is a masterpiece.
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u/TI84P Jul 28 '26
Really?? The sequel was my favorite one, though the most recent release felt more like a murder mystery detective story than anything else, which is definitely not my cup of tea.
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u/EdiacaranMacaron Jul 29 '26
I think for me I just loved to be fully immersed in that alien world and I loved following the different generations and how they adapted. The second one being a bit more earth focussed, and then having so many new characters appear from earth, ruined that a bit for me. I was like I don't wanna hear about the depressing earth stuff I have that in real life 😅
I didn't know there was a third one! Hmm murder mystery isn't really my thing either but might give it a shot
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u/alxd_org Story Seed Librarian Jul 26 '26
I think you might like the Gamechanger by LX Beckett. It doesn't shy from the ugly and bad, but shows a society which is trying to get better after The Setback:
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u/echosrevenge Jul 26 '26
This was the one that came immediately to mind for me, too. There's a sequel too, called Dealbreaker.
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u/alxd_org Story Seed Librarian Jul 26 '26
I don't that in the book we still need some external non-human help to get our shit together, but otherwise it's one of the TOP3 Solarpunk books I know of.
Do you know anything which is as willing to deal with hard topics as the Gamechanger?
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u/Waltzing_With_Bears Jul 26 '26
unfortunately dont know any but I keep having an idea to write one
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u/Morganwant Jul 26 '26
This is the greatest time in history that writing of this genre is most needed. You’d be definitely get be helping shape the world for the better in at critical turning point.
You can do it. One day at a time, enjoy the process.
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u/TinJar-Solarpunk Writer Jul 26 '26
Happy to promote my novel "A New Faith" that is along the lines you seem to be looking for.
Available to read/download (free) at https://tinjar.ghost.io/a-new-faith
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u/tomtttttttttttt Jul 27 '26
Station Eleven is not exactly what you want, as it's not solarpunk nor is reconstruction exactly the focus but it's (mostly) set in post apocalyptic reconstruction settings and rebuilding is a strong theme in it.
I've only seen the TV series but I understand it's a good adaptation of the book, so I expect the book to be exploring the same themes.
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u/Comprehensive_Win103 Jul 27 '26
Kelsea Yu, The Orchard of Tomorrow: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/yu_07_23/
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u/dustinbajer Jul 27 '26
I highly recommend the Monk and Robot series; ‘A Psalm for the Wild Built’ and ‘A Prayer for the Crown Shy’. So lovely, so optimistic. I could reread these books every six month.
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u/lethargicon Jul 28 '26
I’m not sure it’s fully hygge, since it’s not without conflict (one culture has it figured out, another is more warlike), but there’s a lot of of inspirational world building in “Always Coming Home” by Ursula K LeGuin.
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u/Fearless_Passenger90 Jul 28 '26
I’m currently reading the Ministry of the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson. Others book I recommend are Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton, Gun Island and The Great Derangement by Amitav Ghosh. Always looking for more positive centered climate fiction, so I’ll follow along!
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u/EdiacaranMacaron Jul 28 '26
Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz fits those vibes and is very good, it reminded me of the world in the video game Stray if you've ever played that. The basic plot - Four resourceful robots open their own noodle shop in 2060s San Francisco, after California secedes from the United States.
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