Forecasting the Future with Chris Gloninger

This talk explores how fiction can illuminate the emotional and societal impacts of climate change, using Lily Brooks-Dalton’s The Light Pirate as a powerful entry point. Blending science with storytelling, it examines the escalating consequences of sea level rise, extreme weather, and community resilience—connecting the novel’s narrative arc with real-world projections, lived experiences, and urgent adaptation efforts. This program ties in with our 2025 All Urbandale Reads book, "The Light Pirate," but reading the book is not required. All Urbandale Reads (AUR) is a “one book, one community” reading initiative that attempts to get everyone in a city to read and discuss the same book. The goal of All Urbandale Reads is to unite the community and promote literacy through one inspiring read. Click here to learn more about this initiative and to see a list of past titles. Attend any AUR book discussion or program to be entered in a prize drawing for a gift card from Zellaphant Books! All Urbandale Reads reading material and programming funded by the Urbandale Public Library Foundation.