Helen Phillips Wins 2026 Climate Fiction Prize for Novel on AI and Climate Crisis
AI-era thriller about paying for fresh air wins the 2026 Climate Fiction Prize

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Helen Phillips has won the 2026 Climate Fiction Prize for her novel *Hum*, which addresses the climate crisis and AI's impact on human life. The £10,000 award was presented in London on May 27, recognizing the book's exploration of privilege, love, and the commodification of nature.
- 01The Climate Fiction Prize rewards novels that engage with climate issues; *Hum* was recognized for its timely themes.
- 02Phillips' protagonist, May, navigates a future where climate change and AI drastically alter human experiences.
- 03The novel critiques the commodification of nature, depicting a world where access to green spaces is limited and costly.
- 04Judges praised *Hum* for its intimate portrayal of family and community amidst the climate crisis.
- 05The book emphasizes storytelling's role in challenging narratives around technology and climate change.
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Helen Phillips has been awarded the 2026 Climate Fiction Prize for her novel *Hum*, which delves into the intersection of the climate crisis, artificial intelligence, and human relationships. The £10,000 prize was presented at a ceremony in London on May 27. *Hum* follows May, a woman who loses her job to AI and undergoes an experimental procedure to evade surveillance, highlighting the desperate measures people take in a world where access to nature is commodified. The judging panel lauded the novel for its warm yet critical exploration of urgent themes, including privilege and the human connection to the environment. Judge Arifa Akbar described it as a poignant narrative about love and community in the face of technological and ecological challenges. Phillips' work is seen as a vital contribution to the discourse on climate change, emphasizing the power of storytelling to reshape perceptions and envision futures where technology serves humanity and nature. Following her win, Phillips will participate in an interview at the Hay Festival on May 30, 2026.
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