Robin Hobb’s Realm of the Elderlings is a vast and sprawling epic fantasy series, consisting of four trilogies and one tetralogy, all taking place in the same world and concerning events surrounding the same part of that fantasy world’s history, namely the return of dragons to the world. Although scholars and critics have focused mainly on the queer potential of one of the series’ main protagonists, the androgynous and gender-ambivalent Beloved or the Fool, the series also very clearly function as a comment on the geological and critical concept of the Anthropocene. 

The usefulness and correctness of the Anthropocene, referring to the geological epoch when humans make a significant impact on the earth, is debated among both natural scientists and critical humanities scholars. Nonetheless, it has come to be used as an analytical concept for studying how the arts and popular culture reflect, comment on, critique and/or can increase awareness of the impact of human beings on nature and the climate.

Hobb’s fantasy world of the Elderlings sheds light on the Anthropocene. One reason for bringing back dragons into the world is so that humans will no longer be at the top of the food chain. In addition, Hobb has created a magic ability called the Wit, giving the character endowed with it communication with animals and a connection with all living things. Focusing mainly on the second trilogy of the series, The Tawny Man, this chapter discusses how Hobbagain and again draws attention to what it means to be human in the world