Why Fiction Matters in an Increasingly Noisy World

Image: An imagined image of a quote by the Turkish/British writer and philosopher Elif Shafak (Source: Chatgpt)

In age dominated by brief, sensational headlines and raucous but shallow sound bites, fiction might seem like an unlikely catalyst for change. Yet storytelling has always held enduring power—often more meaningfully transformative than protest or lobbying alone.

Stories shape how we see the world and our place within it. They shift our perspective and evoke empathy. My first novel, Darwin’s Wake, was born from this belief. Fiction, when rooted in truth, can help us navigate the moral complexities of our world—and perhaps even catalyse and extend vital conversations.

The Moral Landscape of Darwin’s Wake.

Darwin’s Wake culminates in the sun-drenched north of Australia, where the lives of its characters intersect with personal and political challenges that defy easy solutions. My characters are confronted with decisions about refugees, voluntary assisted dying, and the invisible burdens of privilege. These are not abstract dilemmas—they are daily realities for many. And yet the novel doesn't seek to preach. It seeks to widen perspectives and catalyse empathies.

Philosopher Martha Nussbaum once described writing as a “moral laboratory”—a space where ethical dilemmas can be tested safely within the confines of a reader’s imagination. Darwin’s Wake invites readers into such a laboratory, a laboratory with a distinctly Australian perspective.

Martha Nussbaum is an American intellectual known for being the co-developer (with Indian philosopher Amartya Sen) of the so-called Capabilities Approach and its underlying ethos that all humans deserve the right to dignity and choice.

Characters as Catalysts for Empathy

Several readers have remarked that Roland, a central character in Darwin’s Wake, evoked both fury and sympathy in equal measures. Through Roland and his interactions with others, we explore moral questions—not through lectures or policy briefs, but through personal choices, examples and consequences. These dilemmas are not purely fictional; they are grounded in the lived realities of the world we inhabit.

Fiction can also give voice to the voiceless. Kamahli, a character who has come to Darwin from Sri Lanka, has endured the blunt machinery of Australia’s immigration policies. I have tried to show her not as a victim, but as a survivor. Her story intersects with others who see her variously as a threat, a suspect, and an intelligent and beautiful woman. Her resilience challenges readers to ask: who is she really—and how do we, as privileged white Australians, respond to those who seek sanctuary?

Fiction as a Bridge to Understanding

In today’s global political climate, empathy is in short supply. Fiction can restore humanity. It provides dignity to those who have been dehumanised and forgotten.

If non-fiction tells us what is happening in the world, it is fiction that helps us to understand why it matters. Research shows that reading fiction can increase empathy—especially for people different to ourselves. It teaches us to see through others’ eyes and to recognise nuances in those we might otherwise dismiss.

Finding Meaning in a World of Noise

You may wonder why this is important at this moment. In today's world, we are overwhelmed with information, yet we so often lack meaningful connections. Fiction provides a remedy to the habit of doom-scrolling, reminding us that there is a person behind each problem and a story behind every statistic. The wise words of Elif Shafak ring true.

"Good fiction doesn’t tell you what to think. It asks you to feel."

— Elif Shafak

Image: Prolific Turkish-British author, essayist, political scientists and activist Elif Shafak (Image: The author's website)

Let Fiction Be Your Guide

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the state of the world, let fiction be your guide. If you're unsure where to start or wonder how one person can make a difference, fiction can give you hope. Change rarely begins with certainty. It begins with curiosity.

With Darwin’s Wake, I sought to remind readers that none of us are powerless in the face of injustice. Our choices shape our reality. How we vote, how we speak, how we show care for one another—these all matter. Change doesn’t come from shouting the loudest or silencing others. It begins with listening—widely and deeply—and with the courage to challenge convenient beliefs.

Join the Conversation

Darwin’s Wake is available online now (Link). I challenge you to read Darwin's Wake, and not have your perspective moved, if just a little. Share your thoughts and join in broader conversation about the issues we face as a society.

Let fiction remind us that empathy is not weakness—and that storytelling remains one of the most powerful tools we have for change.

Image: Darwin's Wake off the coast of Naples (Source: Photo courtesy of Luke McGuiness)