<b>War, technology, and environmental destruction: An ecocritical reading of <i>Ghost Fleet</i></b>

Environmental issues are currently a global focus, affecting various aspects of life, including literature. Some contemporary literary works, such as Ghost Fleet, a novel by P.W. Singer and August Cole, also engage with environmental issues. Ghost Fleet is a contemporary techno-thriller that explores the possibility of a third World War, emphasizing the use of sophisticated and cyber technologies in warfare. Although ecological issues are not the novel’s main topic, its depiction of nature as a background highlights the significant role of war and technology on environmental destruction. With that background, this study examines these issues by using the lens of ecocriticism, a theoretical approach that explores the relationship between literature and the environment. This study is a qualitative study which analyzes data from the novel as its main source. The findings reveal some cases of environmental destruction, both biological and physical, caused by the use of modern technology, specifically in the context of warfare. This study underscores the importance of further research on environmental and war-related themes in literature, contributing to a broader understanding of global environmental issues.

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Publication Details

Journal
Alphabet
Published
2025-08-29
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21776/ub.alphabet.2025.08.01.03
Primary Topic
Global Energy and Sustainability Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

War, technology, and environmental destruction: An ecocritical reading of Ghost Fleet

Dwi Linda Kusuma, Nurina Azyyati
Alphabet
Global Energy and Sustainability Research
article

War, technology, and environmental destruction: An ecocritical reading of Ghost Fleet

Dwi Linda Kusuma, Nurina Azyyati
article en

Abstract

Environmental issues are currently a global focus, affecting various aspects of life, including literature. Some contemporary literary works, such as Ghost Fleet, a novel by P.W. Singer and August Cole, also engage with environmental issues. Ghost Fleet is a contemporary techno-thriller that explores the possibility of a third World War, emphasizing the use of sophisticated and cyber technologies in warfare. Although ecological issues are not the novel’s main topic, its depiction of nature as a background highlights the significant role of war and technology on environmental destruction. With that background, this study examines these issues by using the lens of ecocriticism, a theoretical approach that explores the relationship between literature and the environment. This study is a qualitative study which analyzes data from the novel as its main source. The findings reveal some cases of environmental destruction, both biological and physical, caused by the use of modern technology, specifically in the context of warfare. This study underscores the importance of further research on environmental and war-related themes in literature, contributing to a broader understanding of global environmental issues.

AlphabetVol. 8(1)
State University of Jakarta (ID)
Openalex Percentile: Top 80%
Global Energy and Sustainability Research
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