Science Fiction Ecologies is an interesting, layman accessible, and scholarly monograph on worldbuilding in (science) fiction by Dr. Shelley Streeby. Released 25th Aug 2026 by NYU Press as part of the Postmillenial Pop series, it's 384 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.
Interpreted through the lens of three feminist speculative fiction writers, Octavia Butler, Ursula K. LeGuin, and Judith Merril, Dr. Streeby analyzes how the authors utilized notes, resources, extant real-life science and ecology to build a believable framework for their own fictional works.
Although written in layman accessible language, the author is an academic, and it's written very precisely and meticulously and rigorously annotated. The chapter notes alone are probably worth the price of admission. It's already a big book as it it, but it would've been interesting to see Dr. Streeby also turn her lens on other luminary female speculative fiction authors such as Sheri Tepper, Nnedi Okorafor, and Ann Leckie to name a few.
Interesting and very well written. Dry in places, but engaging and readable.
Four and a half stars. Highly recommended for public or post secondary library acquisition, as well as very useful for writers and other creatives.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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