Don’t Trust, Don’t Fear, Don’t Beg

Greenpeace activist Stewart uses the recollections and diaries of the “Arctic 30,” as well as his involvement in the struggle to free them, to piece together a stirring narrative of protest and government oppression. In September 2013, Greenpeace carried out a protest against Russian oil drilling in the Arctic. The action was peaceful in nature but disruptive to Russian oil conglomerate Gazprom, which has close ties to president Vladimir Putin. As a result, the 30 protesters involved were arrested by Spetnaz (Russian commandos), taken to the high-security prison Murmansk SIZO-1, and charged with piracy. While incarcerated, they developed an intricate understanding of the ways fellow prisoners circumvent the system. Meanwhile, an international movement arose demanding their release and calling attention to the problems of climate change. Readers will quickly empathize with both the dedicated Greenpeace veterans and the less experienced activists who did not realize what they were getting into. Anyone curious about the contemporary state of environmental resistance or the Russian state will feel amply rewarded by this tale, as well as chastened about where we’re taking the planet. Agent: David Godwin, David Godwin Associates. (May)