Arborescence

Are we, as a species, the planet’s most selfish housemate? The one who, when the heat reaches breaking point and the question is finally raised, the pointed finger will fall: who on earth caused this mess? For fans of Inga Simpson and Grace Chan, Arborescence by Rhett Davis explores our relationship to the planet, climate guilt, and what it means to hope for a better, greener future.

Set in Melbourne, our protagonist, Bren, works at a completely remote, seemingly purposeless job, and lives with his chaotic, unemployed partner, Caelyn. The couple face an early-20s ennui: Bren begins to think that his colleagues might just be artificial intelligence, and Caelyn finds a job but is fired for stealing. Then, the duo uncovers a strange community of people camping in the forest and attempting to transform themselves into trees. Initially existing only on the fringes of society, this peculiar phenomenon soon proliferates, and people begin to disappear while strange, beautiful trees subsume the world.

This intriguing, utterly original novel is an exploration of grief, hope, and the limits of personal sacrifice. Vignettes within chapters read like diary entries, piecing together a story of humanity amidst chaos. While a work of science fiction, the heart of this narrative lies in its relationships. Set over multiple years, Bren and Caelyn’s story takes them across the world. Initially stumbling through their 20s, the pair must decide whether they’ll grow together or apart as their ambition and values gradually begin to divide them. Together, they navigate friendship and loneliness in a digitally saturated world. Rhett Davis’s second novel leaves a lasting impression and rings with unsettling questions: What does the end of humanity look like? Will it be beautiful? Will it be for the best?