Kenechi Udogu won Faber's inaugural Imagined Futures Prize for YA eco science fiction in 2021 for her gripping novel of an all too plausible apocalyptic vision of a London suffering extreme weather conditions. Picked as our June 2025 Debut of the Month, Augmented was reviewed for LoveReading by Joy Court, who described "A tense eco thriller which has been so rare in a genre such as science fiction. Altogether a brilliant and gripping exploration of climate change, technology and survival as well as the necessity to constantly battle the system to pursue equality and social justice." Kenechi told us a bit more about her impressive debut.
Q. The dystopian vision of our future in Augmented does not seem too far distant. Do you honestly think humanity can survive climate change?
A. While the world in Augmented feels like a near future, I really hope it’s still many decades away, if not centuries. Increasing awareness about the climate emergency we face has made more people think proactively about how they can live consciously and sustainably, as well as being mindful about how they interact with nature. There are so many innovative ways to survive what could come, but we do need to understand that a seemingly small action carried out by one person will make a huge difference if a few billion people all do that same thing.
Q. Do you think that we still have a lot to learn about the ways in which plant life can help us to combat climate change?
A. Definitely. There are hundreds of thousands of plant species in the world, some probably still undiscovered. Researchers and scientists are doing a lot to tap into the potential benefits of plant life to reduce carbon emissions, and it’s not only by planting more trees. I recently found out about the existence of mycelium insulation for use in buildings which is insulation made from the root structure of a fungus. How amazing is that? In Augmented, I explore the possibility of plants growing quicker using amplified sound frequencies. A lot of people don’t realise plant cells are affected by so much more than sunlight, water and rich soil. Imagine how much more can be done if this type of information becomes common knowledge.
Q. Similarly do you think we still have a lot to learn about human potential?
A. Looking back on the last few decades, we’ve made substantial progress and achievements in technology as well as shifts in social and cultural perspectives. We don’t know our limits until we are pushed, and I’m sure humanity still has a lot to give and to learn.
Q. Do you think it is important to give young people hope for the future and specifically for writers to leave a reader with hope? Or is it more important to inspire them to be activists and fight for social justice?
A. Both are equally important. So many technological advancements have been developed from fictional works. For instance, Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea published in 1870 inspired the first modern submarine “Argonaut Junior” by Simon Lake in 1898, and another of Verne’s books Clipper of the Clouds/Robur the Conqueror published in 1886 inspired the first viable helicopter “Vought-Sikorsky VS-300” by Igor Sikorsky in 1939.
Young people need to read about the hopeful and sometimes bleak possibilities of the future for a spark to be ignited and for innovations to follow which will give value to our world. We also need engaging and thought-provoking fictional work to encourage the younger generation to get involved in creating the world they want to live in by contributing their skills in their communities and by lobbying for change at higher levels.
Q. Was it always your dream to be a writer?
Yes, I was that child who read and wrote a lot at a very young age. From primary school, I created comic books and wrote stories which I shared with my siblings and friends. Even after I went to university to study architecture, I kept writing fiction on the side. Getting lost in fantasy and sci-fi worlds I created has always felt normal to me. It’s been the one thing I’ve been fiercely passionate about all my life.
Q. What are the challenges of bringing a novel to publication? How did you find the process?
A. There are a lot of people involved in the process, and it can take a long time before things click with the traditional publishing route. In my case, it took nearly twenty years of submitting different works, but I didn’t give up. I went down the self-publishing route for a while, but found it exhausting, isolating and incredibly expensive. I’m not saying it isn’t the right way to go, but it isn’t as easy as some people make it out to be. As overwhelming as traditional publishing has sometimes felt, there is nothing more humbling and inspiring than knowing I have the support of a strong team who all want my work to succeed.
Q. Any tips or advice for fellow writers trying to get their first novel published?
A. Get comfortable with editing. You’ll have to do this a lot with your agent (if you have one), and multiple rounds before publication with your editor, copy editor and proofreader. Find honest and critical early readers for your work. These could be family, friends or people in the writing community. They are worth their weight in gold. Also, write something you’re passionate about, but be ready to do research. I really enjoy learning new things as part of the writing process.
Q. How did it feel to hold the finished copy of your YA debut novel in your hand - and how did you celebrate?
A. There was a lot of squealing and dancing when I opened my mail and saw my first physical copy of Augmented. It’s been my absolute dream for so long, it almost doesn’t feel real now it’s happening. Knowing it’ll be in actual brick-and-mortar shops blows my mind. I’ll probably still be celebrating months from now, starting with a launch party for my family and friends very soon.
Imagined Futures Prize - At a time of extraordinary global change and societal and environmental turmoil, Faber launched this prize for fiction that shines a spotlight on the immense power and value of the natural world and explores the enormous number of potential outcomes for our collective future.
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