Ian McEwan on Speculative Fiction, Lost Poems and What We Can Know

Sep 18, 2025

In this engaging discussion, critically acclaimed novelist Ian McEwan dives into his latest work, 'What We Can Know,' a speculative fiction set in a drowned future UK of 2119. He explores the challenges of writing climate fiction, reflecting on the balance between optimism and caution regarding biodiversity and AI risks. McEwan also examines the enduring power of novels and the nuances of climate denial through the lens of a missing poem. His insights into the role of archives and personal responsibility add depth to this thought-provoking conversation.

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INSIGHT

Drowned Future And A Lost Poem

McEwan frames the future UK as mountaintop islands after a mid-Atlantic nuclear accident creates global tsunamis.
The missing poem read in 2014 becomes a generational mystery that drives the novel's quest and questions how well we can know the past.

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ANECDOTE

Author Tried Then Scrapped The Poem

McEwan wrote and discarded a draft corona poem because it fell short of his imagined standard.
He omitted the poem to keep readers in the same uncertain position as the novel's scholars and listeners.

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INSIGHT

The Mask Of Professional Knowledge

McEwan explores writers portraying expertise beyond their true interests, like a poet who fakes deep nature knowledge.
This pretense reveals hollowness and the gap between public persona and private knowledge.

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The Drowned Future and the Vanished Poem

02:45 • 11min

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Climate Denial, the 'Derangement' and Everyday Complicity

AI, Nuclear Risk and Biodiversity Recovery

24:23 • 7min

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The Novel's Power, Archives and What We Can Know

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

Ian McEwan's 'On Chesil Beach' tells the story of Florence and Edward, a young couple on their honeymoon in 1962 England. Set against the backdrop of their wedding night on Chesil Beach, the novella explores their anxieties and miscommunications about intimacy. The story delves into their backgrounds and expectations, revealing the societal pressures and personal insecurities that contribute to their marital struggles. As they confront their fears, a pivotal moment leads to a tragic separation that shapes the rest of their lives. 'On Chesil Beach' is a poignant exploration of love, misunderstanding, and the lasting impact of unspoken desires.

#544

• Mentioned in 38 episodes

A Brief History of Time

From the Big Bang to Black Holes

Stephen Hawking

In 'A Brief History of Time', Stephen Hawking delves into fundamental questions about the universe, including its origin, the nature of space and time, and the fate of the cosmos. The book discusses key concepts such as the Big Bang, black holes, and the theories of general relativity and quantum mechanics. Hawking also explores the possibility of time travel and wormholes, and he reflects on the intersection of science and philosophy, including the search for a unifying theory of everything and the implications for our understanding of existence and the universe.

#650

• Mentioned in 33 episodes

Dom Quixote

Xavier, Alberto

Don Quixote, written by Miguel de Cervantes, tells the story of Alonso Quixano, a middle-aged gentleman who, influenced by his extensive reading of chivalric romances, decides to become a knight-errant. He renames himself Don Quixote and, with his squire Sancho Panza, embarks on a series of adventures. These adventures often involve Don Quixote's misinterpretation of reality, such as mistaking windmills for giants and inns for castles. The novel explores themes of reality vs. imagination, the decline of chivalry, and the human condition. Eventually, Don Quixote returns home, regains his sanity, and renounces his chivalric ambitions before his death.

#44475

Machines Like Me

Ian McEwan

Set in an alternate 1980s where the UK lost the Falklands War and Alan Turing is alive, 'Machines Like Me' follows Charlie Friend, who purchases a humanoid robot named Adam. As Adam develops human-like emotions, the novel delves into ethical questions about consciousness, free will, and the responsibilities of creating sentient beings. The story unfolds as a complex love triangle between Charlie, his girlfriend Miranda, and Adam, raising profound questions about what it means to be human.

#260

• Mentioned in 64 episodes

Ulysses

James Joyce

Ulysses is a groundbreaking and complex modernist novel that chronicles the experiences of three Dubliners over a single day. The novel is loosely based on Homer's epic poem 'The Odyssey', with Leopold Bloom paralleling Odysseus, Stephen Dedalus paralleling Telemachus, and Molly Bloom paralleling Penelope. It explores themes such as antisemitism, human sexuality, British rule in Ireland, Catholicism, and Irish nationalism. The novel is known for its innovative use of language and narrative techniques, including stream-of-consciousness and multiple literary styles. It captures the essence of early 20th-century Dublin, providing a detailed snapshot of the city's social, political, and cultural landscape.

#4742

• Mentioned in 7 episodes

The children

David Halberstam

The Children is a detailed narrative by David Halberstam that chronicles the 1959–1962 Nashville Student Movement. The book meticulously recreates the lives of eight young men and women who formed the core committee of the movement, including figures like James Lawson, James Bevel, Diane Nash, John Lewis, and others. It covers key events such as the Nashville sit-ins, the Freedom Riders, and the formation of SNCC, highlighting the courage and resilience of these young activists in the face of violent opposition and societal segregation. The book also explores how these individuals, despite coming from underprivileged backgrounds, went on to achieve significant careers and contribute to the broader civil rights movement.

#3256

• Mentioned in 9 episodes

Atonement

Ian McEwan

The novel centers around Briony Tallis, a thirteen-year-old girl who, in 1935, witnesses a flirtation between her older sister Cecilia and Robbie Turner, the son of a servant. Briony's incomplete grasp of adult motives and her precocious imagination lead her to make a false accusation that changes all their lives. The story follows the repercussions of this event through World War II and into the late 20th century, as Briony spends her life trying to make amends for her mistake. The novel is a complex exploration of guilt, atonement, and the nature of writing and memory.

#12836

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

Lessons

Ian McEwan

Lessons by Ian McEwan is a chronicle of our times, following Roland Baines from his childhood to adulthood, navigating personal crises and historical events like the Chernobyl disaster and the COVID-19 pandemic. The novel explores themes of love, loss, and the impact of global events on personal lives. It is a deeply humane and epic journey through Roland's life, raising questions about control, memory, and learning from past traumas.

Ian McEwan is the critically acclaimed author of nineteen novels and two short story collections.

His novels include Atonement, Enduring Love, The Children Act and On Chesil Beach, and he is the recipient of many awards including the Booker Prize, the Somerset Maugham Award and the Whitbread Novel of the Year Award.

In this episode, McEwan sits down with author and journalist Alex Preston to discuss the enduring power of the novel, the challenges of writing climate fiction and his new book What We Can Know.

What We Can Know is a work of speculative fiction set in 2119. It is a book about poetry, archives, rising sea levels and the plight of humanity in the vast natural world, and is available now online or in bookstores near you.

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