Mean Higher High Water by D.S.G. Burke: A powerful insight into loss and starting again

In Mean Higher High Water, D.S.G. Burke drops readers into a near-future that feels uncomfortably familiar—one where climate collapse has reshaped everything, from politics to basic survival. Anchored by Nia, an older, razor-tongued forager chasing the truth behind a decades-old tragedy, the story balances grief, grit, and dark humor while keeping its environmental themes woven tightly into the plot rather than preached.

Spoiler-free Plot

Survival takes strange shapes, whether it’s a fledgling Viking queen with a habit of talking to birds or a scrappy nonprofit fundraiser who turns every date into a lesson on decarbonization.

But why bother when the seas won’t stop rising and the forests burn on a loop? In this version of the future that’s too rotten not to recognize, justice is a bedtime story for people who still sleep. For Nia, an aging, sharp-tongued forager with a grief problem, the hope of revenge is the only thing keeping her alive. Decades ago, her fiancé died in the explosion of the world’s first zero-emission jet, an incident that put a fiery punctuation mark on global climate cooperation. Convinced that the crash wasn’t an accident, she followed the echoes west, chasing rumors, and discovering along the way that patience can turn nearly anything with leaves into liquor.

Just as Nia’s resolve is starting to fray, the ocean coughs up an eerily familiar sneaker—with the foot still inside.

My take on Mean Higher High Water

Sociopolitical commentary in fiction is always a tricky thing. There are a lot of writers, across all mediums of storytelling, who want to use these stories to convey a message regarding issues that are afflicting the world. The desire is admirable, but there are times when the message can get in the way of the tale you are telling, which is something that D.S.G. Burke doesn’t fall with when writing Mean Higher High Water.

This story is an interesting proposition of sci-fi mixed with a message regarding climate change and how it can take a toll on human society. It is also worth pointing out that Burke spent a decent number of years working as a climate change activist, which is something that is clearly reflected in her writing and the perspective of this story.

The character of Nia also plays an interesting role in this book, especially because of her age. Older, seasoned protagonists are not quite prominent in fiction, at least not when it comes to the most popular stories, but Burke does a solid job explaining why she makes such a good fit here. Her backstory, her years of experience, and the perspective she has shaped throughout her life make her a much more compelling main character, which is something that any author should strive toward.

An element that is perhaps going to be divisive with a lot of people (although it wasn’t a problem with me) is the fact that Burke relies heavily on flashbacks to explain certain elements of the story. This may annoy some people, especially those who view that as a cheap storytelling device, but I personally think they work quite well and provide these little snippets of the characters’ past, which adds to the experience as a whole.

You can also tell that Burke enjoys snarky humor and that is one of the key traits of the book as you can keep on reading. Much like the flashbacks, this kind of humor is something that can be divisive with a lot of people, but I think it is handled well and not overused, adding that bit of levity to what is a very serious story.

Perhaps the only major criticism I can give of this book is the fact that Burke tends to rely on multiple points of view when it comes to different chapters. Now, that is not bad, and there are some instances where it is executed quite well here, but the issue lies when she adds different points of view for the same scene.

This could be fun for some people, but I personally think that it derails the story a bit and keeps it from moving forward at times, which can be a problem. I understand the perspective of wanting to add different points of view to get a message or a theme across, but I believe this could have been done in much better fashion.

Mean Higher High Water is a good book, combining a dystopian sci-fi tale with a strong message regarding climate change without sacrificing its storytelling values. Definitely worth your time.

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