Arborescence: A dazzling and deeply moving story about humans turning into trees - Hardcover

Davis, Rhett

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0349725306 ISBN 13: 9780349725307

Publisher: Fleet, 2026

Synopsis

'A wry tale, deftly told... transforms the anguish of our moment into hope' RICHARD FLANAGAN, TLS
'I do not remember loving a book and a story this much in a very long time' MINNIE DRIVER
___________________________________________________________________________

What makes a person want to be a tree?

Bren and his partner Caelyn are feeling at a standstill in their lives. One day they come across a video of people in the forest who believe that if they stand still for long enough they will transform into trees. The idea is absurd. But it's spreading. Soon, people start to go missing and trees appear in unlikely places.

As cities decay and the world becomes greener, Caelyn becomes more and more convinced that arborescence is exactly what will save the planet from human destruction. Bren isn't so sure. Drifting apart, Bren and Caelyn are forced to question what it really means to be human - and if they are ready to stand still.
___________________________________________________________________________

'Laugh-out-loud funny, disarmingly wise and very, very readable' NATHAN FILER
'You will not be able to stop thinking about this extraordinary book' SOPHIE WARD
'Both a celebration of trees and a warning of a planet in crisis' FINANCIAL TIMES
'A great and beautiful book that is profound and profoundly moving' JENNIFER CROFT
'Thrilling, thought-provoking and incredibly tender' CHIOMA OKEREKE
'A strange, profound exploration of what makes us human' THE BOOKSELLER

About this title

About the Author

Rhett Davis holds an MFA in Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and a PhD in creative writing from Deakin University. In 2020, he won the Victorian Premier's Literary Award for an Unpublished Manuscript. His debut novel, Hovering, was published in 2022, and was shortlisted for the Aurealis Award for Best Science Fiction novel. Rhett has lived in several places but always finds his way back to Geelong, where he lives with his partner and two talkative cats.

From the Back Cover

'A dazzling blend of cosmic eco-horror and arthouse sci-fi, Arborescence is one of the most profound and beautiful books you'll ever read. A devastating and unforgettable elegy for the planet' Chris Flynn, author of Orpheus Nine

'Original, mind-bending and uplifting. I loved this beautiful, feral book so much, I wanted to walk into its pages and never look back' Inga Simpson, author of The Thinning

'A strange and compelling exploration of our current moment. Arborescence is part Sally Rooney, part Stephen King. It reads like a thriller but has the tenderness and insight of poetry' Ben Rawlence, author of The Treeline

'A balm and an urgent whisper of hope. This is a book to help us believe that all is not lost. Extraordinary' Kate Mildenhall, author of The Hummingbird Effect

From the Inside Flap

What makes a person want to be a tree?

Bren and his partner Caelyn are feeling at a standstill in their lives. One day they come across a video of people in the forest who believe that if they stand still for long enough they will transform into trees. The idea is absurd. But it's spreading. Soon, people start to go missing and trees appear in unlikely places.

As cities decay and the world becomes greener, Caelyn becomes more and more convinced that arborescence is exactly what will save the planet from human destruction. Bren isn't so sure. Drifting apart, Bren and Caelyn are forced to question what it really means to be human - and if they are ready to stand still.

Edition details

• Publisher: Fleet
• Publication date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0349725306
• ISBN 13: 9780349725307
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 304