Fitzroy Writers Festival - Seed: Bri Lee on climate, reproduction and survival

What happens when science, ethics, and survival collide at the edge of the world?

In her new novel Seed (Allen & Unwin), Bri Lee takes us deep into Antarctica, where two scientists race to complete a seed vault, a biodiversity insurance policy against humanity’s devastation. As isolation closes in and fault lines appear in their perfect social experiment, the novel asks urgent questions about climate grief, ecological collapse, and reproductive ethics.

Join Bri as she explores writing climate fiction in an age of ecological crisis, the fraught politics of reproduction and bodily autonomy, and the ethical dilemmas of what and who we preserve for the future. Seed challenges us to consider the human costs of survival and the fragile line between sacrifice and hope.

Bri Lee photo credit: Saskia Wilson

About the Book

An astonishing new novel from the acclaimed and bestselling author of Eggshell Skull and The Work.

Mitchell is a brilliant biologist, committed to the environment and the growing global antinatalist movement. For one month each year he lives with his colleague Frances in a utopia of radical equality and scientific dedication in Antarctica. They are concluding the Anarctos Project: a seed vault in an isolated, secret location. It is a biodiversity insurance policy against humanity’s devastating effects on the rapidly warming planet.

But when their helicopter doesn’t pick them up, and strange things begin to happen, their faith in science is suddenly not enough. Mitchell has been keeping big secrets – from Frances and from himself. The ice haunts him with memories of a devastating betrayal and questions of legacy and fairness crowd his mind.

If they don’t get back to McMurdo Station before the last flight home they face a long dark polar winter together. Alone. As the days get shorter, these two people of firm logic and reason begin finding fault lines in their perfect social experiment.

Thrilling, original and almost unbearably suspenseful, Seed offers an uneasy glimpse into isolation, love and our worst fears.

About Bri Lee

Bri Lee is the multi-award-winning bestselling author of acclaimed non-fiction books Eggshell Skull, Beauty and Who Gets to Be Smart. Her journalism, essays, and short stories have been published widely, and she is the creator and editor of News & Reviews. Bri's bestselling first novel, The Work, was published in April 2024 and has been longlisted for the 2025 Indie Award for Debut Fiction. Seed is her latest Work of fiction.

About Sophie Cunningham

Sophie Cunningham is a non-fiction writer, novelist, children’s book writer and teacher of creative writing. A Member of the Order of Australia for her contributions to literature, Sophie is the Deputy Chair of the Australian Society of Authors and a non- executive director of the Copyright Agency. She lives in Fitzroy.

Yarra Libraries is proud to partner with Fairfield Books as our dedicated Festival bookseller.

The Fitzroy Writers Festival is only made possible through the generous support of the Thomas, Samuel and George Ewing Trust, a fund that fosters literacy, libraries, and a lifelong love of learning for the benefit of Fitzroy residents and visitors.

Fitzroy Writers Festival will be Auslan interpreted. The Fitzroy Town Hall entrance is located via a large set of stairs from Napier Street. Lift access is available via Moor Street. There are two wheelchair accessible toilets located in the Fitzroy Town Hall, next to the Ballroom.

The Route 11 Tram stops at Bell Street/ Brunswick Street (from the city) or King William Street/Brunswick Street (from the north) and is a 350m walk to the Fitzroy Town Hall.

If you have accessibility questions or requirements, please contact us at [email protected] or on 1300 695 427.