Creature Needs: Writers Respond to the Science of Animal Conservation

This beautiful collaboration, edited by Lucy Spelman (founder of the nonprofit Creature Conserve), poet Kondrich, and writer Susan Tacent (both Creature Conserve writers in residence), delves into the intersections of nature, identity, and existential longing. This book is separated into six parts, to which various authors contribute poetry, prose, and short stories inspired by scientific studies and data provided to them with regard to the six basic needs of nature—air, food, water, shelter, room to move, and companionship. The contributors explore primal and instinctual desires and their impact on human behavior, offering both intellectual insight and emotional depth. This is a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant read that stands out for its lyrical prowess and formal innovation, making it a significant contribution to contemporary literature as well as a key volume bridging the gap between the worlds of science and art.