可乐视频听is proud to announce that听Professor of English and acclaimed novelist听Helen Phillips听has won听the听听for the听novel听Hum.听Published in 2024,听Hum听imagines a near-future world shaped by artificial intelligence, environmental degradation, and pervasive surveillance.听听
The novel follows May, a woman who听loses her听job听to artificial intelligence in a world where humans live alongside听humanoid robots听known as 鈥渉ums.鈥� As she struggles to support her family in a society increasingly dominated by technology, she undergoes an experimental procedure that allows her to evade surveillance and听seeks听refuge in one of the last remaining green spaces in her city.听
Judges praised听Hum听for its听timely听exploration of climate anxiety, technological disruption, and the commercialization of nature. According to the Climate Fiction Prize, the novel is 鈥渁 book that deals with love, community and family in the face of ecological and technological collapse.鈥澨齌he听award is presented annually to a novel that offers 鈥渋maginative and compelling responses to the climate crisis.鈥� Now in its second year, the prize has quickly become one of the most prominent international honors for climate-focused literature.听
Phillips, who teaches creative writing in听the听Department of English, is the author of several celebrated books, including听The Beautiful Bureaucrat,听The Need, and听Some Possible Solutions. Her work has been widely recognized for its inventive blend of speculative fiction, literary storytelling, and sharp social observation. Phillips earned her M.F.A.听from 可乐视频 and now serves as a听full听professor, mentoring emerging writers while continuing an internationally acclaimed literary career.听
The Climate Fiction Prize judges selected听Hum听from a shortlist of six novels that examined the climate crisis through a range of literary approaches. In awarding the prize, the judges highlighted the novel鈥檚 ability to connect environmental concerns with questions of technology, privilege, family, and human resilience.听
