No Other Planet

'No Other Planet synthesises astute theoretical analysis, bold imagination and an acute consciousness of the stakes for scholars writing about the climate crisis to engage readers in the transformative possibilities of utopian thought, art and action. Dispelling both tired dismissals of utopia as wishful thinking, and their counterpart in resigned fatalism, Mathias Thaler demonstrates how different utopian imaginations, in theory, in fiction and in the prefiguration of activism, can estrange, galvanise and caution those for whom the future seemed fixed by the past and present. In this sense, while never overstating the difference that theory can make in the face of our planet in peril, Thaler has written a book that allows his readers to recognise this one, only planet as one whose future our care, attention and imagination might make a difference.' Danielle Celermajer, The University of Sydney
'Thaler offers a challenging vision for our times in applying varying traditions of utopian enquiry to the prospect of imminent environmental catastrophe in the coming decades. Commencing from the premise that utopianism involves the 'education of a desire for being and living otherwise', he contends that this process demands re-imagining who we are and where we are going. No mere wishful thinkers or builders of castles in the sky, utopians vindicate the imagination in offering us visions of prospective alternative worlds which lift us beyond the constricting horizons of the everyday and suggest solutions to the deadly scenario looming before us. This is a provocative, refreshing, and welcome addition to the literature on utopianism, to current proposals about solving global warming, and to the revival of utopian thinking itself.' Gregory Claeys, University of London
'Our ecological predicament can seem overwhelmingly grim. Mathias Thaler's deeply thoughtful book shows what speculative fiction can bring to understanding present-day crises, and the desire and impetus for ecological hope. Thaler resists clean-cut, easy solutions. Instead, utopian studies, environmental humanities, and political theory meet in this brilliant exploration of the social and theoretical tensions that arise when there is nowhere else to go, and where the flourishing of the radical imagination, in all its diversity, depends on supporting rather than papering over the faultlines.' Davina Cooper, Kings College London
'The extensive analysis of the meanings of utopianism in No Other Planet is the most illuminating that I have come across in political theory. This is in large part a result of Thaler's style and sensibility. He is a very generous interlocutor: rather than seeking to discredit or dismiss alternative viewpoints, or engaging in polemics with authors he disagrees with, he seeks out points of agreement or constructive elements that he can build on or incorporate into his own thinking, even as he is clear about what he rejects. As such, the book has an admirable cumulative synthetic quality, grounded in a view of scholarship as a shared endeavour rather than a blood-sport. It is an attractive scholarly virtue. Indeed it can be read as modelling some of the utopian openness and generosity that he seeks to diagnose and prescribe.' Duncan Bell, Centre for the Study of Governance and Society, King's College London
'Thaler's innovative methodological framework and judiciously analysed examples effectively and powerfully demonstrate the value of thinking speculative fiction, political theory, and climate change together. The study, with this constellation of elements, sets out a research agenda that will no doubt spur other green political theorists to explore the world of speculative fiction. Given the political disruptions associated with the climate crisis, new ways of thinking are required - and the dreams of climate fiction writers, whether weird or wonderful, hopeful or apocalyptic, are an invaluable resource.' Joe P. L. Davidson, Environmental Politics
'No Other Planet covers an enormous amount of ground, drawing from an admirably wide range of texts and showing an impressive mastery of multiple literatures. … the book is an exemplar of problem-driven interdisciplinarity and a model of how theorists can and should make use of cultural resources to understand our world.' Benjamin L. McKean, Contemporary Political Theory
'Thaler makes a compelling case for the importance of studying utopian visions in helping “us” to figure out better ways of being, living and surviving the Anthropocene. He demonstrates an ability to render complex concepts and diverse literatures accessible, and weaves them together into a coherent albeit wide-ranging survey of utopian visions.' Carl Death, Cambridge Review of International Affairs
'[… this book] covers an enormous amount of ground, drawing from an admirably wide range of texts and showing an impressive mastery of multiple literatures. … [It] is an exemplar of problem-driven interdisciplinarity and a model of how theorists can and should make use of cultural resources to understand our world.' Benjamin L. McKean, Contemporary Political Theory
'How can utopianism inform a response to the climate crisis? Examining utopianism in political theory and speculative fiction, Mathias Thaler demonstrates how utopianism already functions in both genres. Through sensitive analyses of Bruno Latour; N.K. Jemisin; eco-modernists like Steven Pinker and Kim Stanley Robinson; and eco-pessimists like the Dark Mountain Collective and Margaret Atwood, Thaler shows not just the variety of utopianism but also how utopianism motivates readers toward action, even in what feels like dystopian times.' Joel Alden Schlosser, Political Science Quarterly
'The book is an excellent example of cross-disciplinary work, bringing together political philosophy, insights from literary studies, and environmental humanities. In that respect, [it] is an important work for scholars working across utopian studies as well as scholars working more broadly on utopian thought in political philosophy and environmental humanities. Thaler's theories of utopian fault lines open a productive line of enquiry with the potential for studies to investigate the other fault lines that underpin utopian literature.' Ruth Houghton, Global Policy
'Drawing upon the utopian trope as manifested in theory and fiction, Thaler tackles the difficult question of how we can shape a future for humanity and for nonhuman lifeforms on a radically altered planet. His methodical analysis and critique of utopian ideas, and his innovative use of speculative fiction to shed light on and add depth to theoretical discussions on Earth and our future, constitute an important intellectual contribution to this critical debate.' Nicole Rogers, The Review of Politics