Sustainability Before Ambition - A Call for Dialogue

by Nina Munteanu

Feb 2026 - 01

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The Sustainability Thread is a thematic series of articles, curated by Canadian SF author Nina Munteanu and sponsored by Reality Skimming Press. Pieces in the series appear twice a month Query Nina Munteanu about appearing on the thread at nina.sfgirl@gmail.com

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Nina Munteanu, Ecologist and Author. Image credit: (LEFT, waferboard, 2012).

Since permanently returning to British Columbia and the Lower Mainland this past summer, I’ve been immersing myself in the coastal rainforests here. Something quite remarkable happens when I’m in the forest. My body feels itself slow down to take in the soothing forest smells and textures and I feel time slow as I breathe in a joy of simply being. The forest helps me reset my compass, by nurturing my soul.

Soon after I returned to the Lower Mainland, I reconnected with my writing community. This included attending a small convention in November where I reconnected with Lynda Williams writer of the Okal Rel series and publisher of Reality Skimming Press. We’d collaborated on a few projects in the past (e.g., on the subject of optimistic SF) and over supper between discussions of climate change, ecocide, world domination, and the return of fascism, we inevitably came to a favourite subject: the power and importance of narrative—how it too can help reset one’s compass, by nurturing a worldview and associated actions to heal us and our ailing planet.

Forest walk. Image credit: Nina Munteanu

So, that is how this column has come about. Each month you will see two postings on this thread: 1) an interview with an author on how they view and treat sustainability over ambition in their works and/or their life; and 2) an article on the subject—my own thoughts reflected in my own works or other’s works and treatises I’ve encountered, ideas and strategies that have intrigued me, and everything in between.

Between the interviews and articles, this thread will dissect and study the phenomenon of sustainability and the meaning behind what motivates and animates us as living and working human beings in a rapidly changing world commanded by climate change. A world in which habitat destruction, reduced biodiversity and imminent extinction have become the norm. Together, we’ll look at what sustainability means to us—as citizens and as writers and communicators—and how ambitions play into the narratives we weave for ourselves and others.

Contribute

I am actively seeking a Canadian and particularly a Canadian SF/F perspective, but all are welcome. I look forward to talking with you!

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Nina Munteanu is an Canadian ecologist, author, editor and writing coach, notably but not exclusively in the realm of Speculative Fiction (SF/F). In addition to nine published novels, Munteanu has written short stories, articles and non-fiction books, which have been translated into several languages throughout the world. Munteanu is a member of SF Canada.

• Nina Munteanu on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ninamunteanu/

• Nina Munteanu Writing Coach. https://ninamunteanu.me/

• Nina Munteanu (Wikipedia). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nina_Munteanu

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Image Credits

• Munteanu, N. (n.d.). Forest walk.

• waferboard. (2012, October 1). Crescent Park in Surrey, BC.: pond with rushes. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pond_with_rushes_(8249047661).jpg