In the year 2080, wildfires rage through what remains of Yellowstone Wildlife Reserve, forcing its last inhabitants to flee north in search of survival. This harrowing scenario opens Eleanor Keisman’s debut novella “New Animal,” a work of climate fiction that examines the profound consequences of environmental collapse through the eyes of Pope, an orphaned wild wolf.
The newly released book from Broken Tribe Press presents a world ravaged by floods, fire, famine, and disease. As Pope ventures through unfamiliar territory along the Rocky Mountains, his capture by dog breeders sets in motion an unlikely alliance that challenges the boundaries between wild and domesticated, human and animal.
In captivity, Pope encounters Bill, a human, and Hume, a wolfdog. Despite lacking a common language, the trio forms an unconventional pack, venturing into the wilderness where their survival depends on mutual trust and cooperation. Their journey through a dramatically altered ecosystem forces them to confront not only external threats but also fundamental questions about identity and belonging.
The narrative takes a poignant turn when another wildfire separates the makeshift pack. Pope’s subsequent encounter with a real wolf pack reveals how profoundly his experiences have changed him, leaving him unrecognizable even to his own kind. This transformation serves as a metaphor for the irreversible changes climate catastrophe brings to all living beings.
Author Ted Flanagan describes the work as “a deeply emotional and stupendously powerful paean to the planet and all who depend on it.” He notes that while Keisman avoids explicit advocacy, the story compels readers to feel protective of Earth through its emotional impact rather than didactic messaging.
Chi Ta-wei, author of “The Membranes,” offers equally compelling praise, stating: “After reading New Animal, I can never again see the everyday sight of a person walking a dog without feeling uneasiness. What once seemed ordinary now appears heartbreakingly vulnerable-as climate disasters loom, even this simple pleasure might disappear at any time.”
Ta-wei particularly highlights the novella’s exploration of interspecies bonds, noting how it reveals the “lonely hunger for companionship” shared by humans and wolves alike. The work examines hierarchical relationships formed for survival, exposing the raw desire and quiet desperation beneath its stoic surface.
Set against the backdrop of an inhospitable future Earth, the story follows Pope’s desperate journey from the burning remains of Yellowstone toward the promise of cooler weather in Canada. As the last survivor of his pack, his encounters with both humans and other wolves become increasingly dangerous, threatening his freedom and life.
The novella stands out within the climate fiction genre for its lyrical prose and emotional depth. Rather than presenting a simple cautionary tale, Keisman’s work offers a nuanced exploration of how environmental collapse reshapes relationships across species boundaries.
Through Pope’s transformation from wild wolf to something indefinably other, the story illuminates the permanent changes that fleeting moments can bring. The narrative suggests that adaptation to catastrophic circumstances may ensure survival but at the cost of fundamental identity.
“New Animal” joins a growing body of climate fiction that moves beyond apocalyptic warnings to examine the intimate, personal consequences of environmental destruction. By focusing on the emotional journey of a single wolf, Keisman creates a work that resonates on both individual and planetary scales.
The book is currently available through major retailers and represents a significant addition to contemporary environmental literature. Its publication comes at a time when climate fiction increasingly serves as a vehicle for processing collective anxiety about environmental futures while exploring what it means to remain connected across species in an era of ecological breakdown.