Introduction

In this introductory section, the context which frames this book will be considered—that of the Climate Emergency (and related crises—biodiversity and habitat loss, food and water security, acidification, deforestation, etc.)—before an attempt is made to establish the territory by considering the terms of ‘nature writing’, ‘place-writing’, and ‘ecofiction’. The two main streams that have influenced ecofiction (the novel and nature writing) will be discussed briefly. The innovations of ‘new nature writing’, which deconstructs many of the attendant issues of early nature writing (colonialism, gender bias, etc.), will be explored and how these can be incorporated into ecofiction. Seminal ‘taproot texts’ which foreshadowed these forms will be considered, and the limits and challenges acknowledged of the current survey addressed. The chapters will be summarised and a brief explanation on ‘how to use the book’ offered.