After the Dragons

NOMINATED FOR THE 2022 URSULA K. LE GUIN PRIZE FOR FICTION

A pleasant, delightful surprise. This is the exact type of story I was hoping this award would highlight. After the Dragons is a quiet story focused on humans- a kind of slice of life of two gay students and their troubled relationships (the characters feel very real, often frustratingly so). In the background is a beautifully constructed and fascinating world based on modern-day Beijing, where dragons are small pet-like creatures which were perhaps once seen as gods, but now all-too familiar victims of capitalism, just like our pets are today.

It's an interesting way of telling climate fiction. The climate stuff is never at the forefront, yet it's always palpable and feels like an intrinsic part of the story. Definitely check this out if you're a fan of low-stakes fiction. Heartily recommend.