War, Technology and Environment in Paolo Bacigalupi’s Tool of War

M J Sreeja; M Saji

doi:10.34293/sijash.v11iS4-Mar.7617

M J Sreeja Associate Professor and Head, Ph.D Research Scholar, Department of English, S.T Hindu College, Nagercoil Affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Abishekapatti, Tirunelveli, Tamilnadu, India
M Saji Associate Professor and Head, Ph.D Research Scholar, Department of English, S.T Hindu College, Nagercoil Affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Abishekapatti, Tirunelveli, Tamilnadu, India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.34293/sijash.v11iS4-Mar.7617

Keywords: War, Technology, Climate Change, Environment, Destruction

Abstract

This article explores the negative effects of war on the environment and the natural resources. War is deadly and destructive by nature having the ability to alter the biosphere. The potential consequences of war and technological activities on the ecosystem have long term effects on the environment. Paolo Bacigalupi utilized a combination of near future earth and crime fiction plot in his novel Tool of War to bring out the consequences of war and modern technology. The novel is set in a dark future devastated by climate change and is one among Baciglaupi’s Ship Breaker trilogy. The character Tool is a genetically engineered weapon, bred for massacre, survival, and loyalty but when human-made invention turned against him, it resulted in war and destruction of the environment.