Exploring Climate Fiction: Helen Phillips’ Award-Winning Novel “Hum”

“Hum”, set in an overheated futuristic metropolis, tells the compelling story of a mother’s struggle to protect her small family amidst relentless technological surveillance and climate change challenges. This year, Helen Phillips’ work won the prestigious Climate Fiction Award, a recognition supported by Climate Spring and valued at £10,000.

About the Award

The Climate Fiction Award, established to spotlight storytelling that engages with the realities of climate change, was previously awarded in 2025 to Abi Dalle for her novel And That’s Why I Roar. Phillips’ novel outshone other shortlisted titles, including Susanna Kwan’s tale of a flooded San Francisco in Wake Up in a Floating City and Maria Leva’s journey with a highly endangered snail in End Ring.

Judges’ Insights

Judge Friederike Otto, a professor of climate science at Imperial College London, praised “Hum” for addressing the core issues of privilege related to the climate crisis. Fellow judge and novelist Jesse Greengrass acknowledged the book’s exploration of existential anxiety, saying, “A book about how to deal with anxiety when nothing is right, or when every choice you make ends up making things worse.”

Story Overview

Set in a near-future city where super-intelligent robots known as Hams coexist with humans, the narrative centers around Mae, a mother fighting to keep her children away from addictive technology. Desperate for a natural escape, she embarks on a journey to a hidden oasis within the city, highlighting the struggles of parenthood in a technologically dominated environment.

Inspiration behind “Hum”

In a conversation with Alison Flood, Helen Phillips shared her inspirations, noting that every novel emerges from myriad small seeds. A personal incident involving targeted advertising sparked her contemplation of extreme algorithmic surveillance, subsequently shaping the central conflict faced by Mae.

Thematic Reflections

Phillips acknowledges her anxieties surrounding climate change, surveillance, and economic inequality as key influences in her writing process. A poignant quote from the book, delivered by a wise machine, states, “We know the world is damaged, but we don’t know what that means for our children’s lives.” This sentiment captures the collective fear many parents feel today.

Art Reflecting Reality

The themes in “Hum” are deeply rooted in current societal realities. Phillips reflects on Margaret Atwood’s famous quote from The Handmaid’s Tale, suggesting that many fictional narratives are extrapolations of real-life situations. This connection between reality and fiction serves to remind readers of the pressing issues at hand while allowing room for hope.

Looking Ahead

The emotional core of “Hum” resonates with the primary goal of nurturing connections—with family, the environment, and oneself. Phillips hopes that her work inspires readers to cherish what remains of nature, emphasizing the need to protect it for future generations.

The Impact of Storytelling

Phillips believes storytelling has the potential to spark meaningful discussions on climate change and human resilience. She asserts that while her writing stems from personal anxieties, it is not meant to provide direct solutions but rather to evoke curiosity and contemplation among readers.

A Commitment to Climate Fiction

Writing about climate issues has consistently been a priority for Phillips, evident even in her earlier works. Although she doesn’t set out to write a climate novel explicitly, themes of climate anxiety and environmental degradation remain central to her storytelling.

Hope for the Future

When asked about the future of her characters and humanity, Phillips emphasizes the necessity of connection, urging collective efforts to value and care for our planet. She believes that recognizing each other’s humanity is crucial in facing the climate crisis.

Source: www.newscientist.com