It’s actually possible to realize that, and to count oneself among the ones that would likely suffer and/or die in many such scenarios (I sure would), and still think that ultimately, it will be a net positive for our current society to collapse, or even for the whole human race to run its course and give the planet back to the rest of the life forms that aren’t actively trying to destroy it. After all, the current way we’re doing things is also causing untold suffering and death, and it will only get worse as climate change progresses. Would I prefer that we change fundamental things about the way we function - as a society and as a species - rather than running headlong into a spectacular and brutal collapse? Sure. But people will be people, and it’s pretty clear to me that that’s not going to happen. At least after a collapse, some other species might have a fighting chance.

I’m so glad to see some love for this book because I felt that way but everything I’ve read online so far just trashes it. Yeah, okay, it’s not a long book, it’s not a meaty book in word count terms, but it makes its point well, and beautifully. I think there is a place for, basically, grown up picture books. I mean, graphic novels are often more graphic than novel and yet many people get a lot out of them.

To me, as someone who is often sick with the thought of how we are destroying everything wonderful on this planet, it’s a very hopeful message that regardless of what we do, if/when we self-destruct, some beauty and magic in the universe will survive and go on just fine without us.

There are definitely portal fantasies with male protagonists, but the ones with female protagonists tend to fit into a very particular mold with its own characteristic details - there’s a whole website about this called Girls Underground, with hundreds of examples.