Over the course of the umpteenth heatwave last month, and in the wake of over 2700 excess deaths estimated in England and Wales during the May and June heatwaves, I read When there are wolves again by E. J. Swift. The blurb from the author’s website: Activist Lucy’s earliest memories are of living with her grandparents during the 2020 pandemic and discovering her grandmother’s love of birds. Filmmaker Hester was born on the day of the Chornobyl explosion and visits the site years later to film its feral dogs in the Exclusion Zone. Here she meets Lux, the wolf dog who will give her life meaning. Over half a century, their journeys take them from London to the Highlands to Somerset, through protests, family rifts, and personal tragedy. Lucy joins the fight to restore Britain’s depleted natural habitats and revive the species who once shared the island, whilst Hester strives to give a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves. Both dream of a time when there are wolves again. It’s a story of climate crisis, changing landscapes, and the rise of far-right nationalist groups, and so feels unnervingly timely, especially after the recent paramilitary anti-migrant group started blocking roads and threatening the RNLI. And while there’s plenty to be depressed about (both in the book and in real life) there is hope in the novel too, and indications of how to navigate our way to some sort of better future. I’m still mulling over my thoughts about this book, which is always the sign of something good. I think I need to read it again in a few weeks or months to take it all in, but even after the first read I’d highly recommend it. When there are wolves again won the Arthur C Clarke award last month. You can email me at lazarus@lazaruscorporation.co.uk with a comment or response.