Das ökologische Katastrophennarrativ und der death-in-life-Zustand in den Romanen 2.5 Grad: Morgen stirbt die Welt, Der Wald: Er tötet leise, Der zweite Hundekrieg und Aschen der Vorbeigehenden

Abstract

Fiction plays a crucial role in recalling the lost properties of nature and conveying admonishing memories. This has given rise to new genres in literature, such as eco-thrillers, climate change novels and Anthropocene fiction (Dürbeck 2018). Therefore, the topic of climate change and its effects on people and the environment is attracting the attention of many writers. This article focuses on four novels: Der Wald. Er tötet leise by the German writer Tibor Rode (2023), 2,5 Grad. Morgen stirbt die Welt (2011) by the German writer Noah Richter, The Second War of the Dog (arab. ḥrb ālklb ālṯānya) (2016) by the Arab writer Ibrahim Nasrallah and Ashes of those Passing By (arab. rmād ālʿābryn) (2022) by the Egyptian writer Yasser Abdel Hafez. The four novels bring literary dystopia and its anticipatory potential into a meaningful connection with the problem of climate change and its effects on societies worldwide. They describe the bleak future of humanity on Earth due to climate change. This article explores how selected novels represent the dystopian environmental crisis and how they incorporate the features of catastrophe narratives. The answer to these questions considers the characteristics of the eco-thriller and catastrophe narratives.