The Power of Story:
Why You Can’t Miss the Dandenong Ranges Literary Festival Panel on Climate Fiction
Why This Panel Matters: Stories for Our Time
Climate change and dystopian futures are not just trending topics—they’re urgent realities shaping our present and our future.
Through compelling stories, the three panelists illuminate the challenges we face, the potential for resilience, and the choices that define us.
Their different approaches promise a lively, wide-ranging discussion that will resonate long after the festival lights dim.
What to Expect at the Panel:
- Insights into each author’s unique writing process and inspiration
- Discussions on how fiction can influence public perception and action on climate issues
- Audience Q&A—bring your burning questions!
- Book signings
- The chance to connect with fellow lovers of literature
Meet the Panel:
Three Distinct Voices, One Crucial Conversation
Aaron Lamb
A bestselling author whose career spans almost two decades across five novels, Aaron Lamb has carved out a distinctive voice in speculative fiction through his signature dark comedy lens.
His latest novel, Cults, Coffee and Close Encounters, reached number one on Amazon in Australia, exemplifying his talent for tackling climate catastrophe and societal collapse with razor-sharp wit. As one reviewer puts it, his work is “hilarious and unhinged.”
Aaron has appeared at writers’ festivals, on RRR, and ABC Radio National, and brings a fresh, irreverent approach to urgent climate conversations through his growing TikTok presence.
Rose Michael
An award-recognised speculative fiction author whose work has appeared in Island, Griffith Review, Best Australian Stories, and Meanjin.
Rose’s debut novel The Asking Game was a runner-up for the prestigious Vogel Award and received an Aurealis honourable mention, while her second novel The Art of Navigation was shortlisted for a Conjure award.
Her critical writing on speculative fiction has been published in The Conversation and Sydney Review of Books.
Currently working on her new novel Else, Rose crafts narratives that challenge readers to explore urgent contemporary themes through imaginative, thought-provoking storytelling.
Michael Prewer
Author of the dystopian debut novel R.E.Generation, set 50,000 years after climate catastrophe has erased mammalian life.
With a Bachelor of Science in Anatomy and Masters in Speech Pathology, Michael brings scientific rigour to his fiction, working as a paediatric speech pathologist while crafting narratives about humanity’s survival.
Passionate about minimising human impact on the planet, he channels this commitment into gripping stories that explore what remains when everything familiar is lost.
His work combines scientific insight with raw human drama, creating emotionally resonant tales that challenge readers to confront uncomfortable futures.
Marian Matta
Marian Matta writes short stories and historical fiction. Her collection, ‘Life, Bound’, was published by MidnightSun in 2020, and others stories have appeared in over a dozen anthologies.
Her manuscript ‘On Æther Hill’, set in the Dandenong Ranges, won a Gold Medal at the 2024 Historical Novels Society Conference.
Marian is the moderator for this panel and also founder of the Dandenong Ranges Literary Festival.
Everything You Need to Know:
Where:
The Belgrave Library
When:
Saturday 18, 1pm-3pm
Don’t Miss Out—Secure Your Ticket Today!
Literary festivals are about more than just books, they’re about community, conversation, and a shared love of stories that matter.
This panel is a rare opportunity to engage with authors who are shaping the conversation around climate change and dystopian fiction. Whether you’re a devoted reader, an aspiring writer, or simply curious about where storytelling is headed, you’ll leave inspired and energised.
Tickets to the Dandenong Ranges Literary Festival are selling fast, and with a line-up this impressive, seats for this panel won’t last.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of a thought-provoking, timely, and entertaining event.
Book your ticket now—and prepare to see the power of story in action!