« ICFA26 - Report from Robin Reid | Main | ICFA 26 - Cultural Identities Caucus Meeting »
April 13, 2005
ICFA 26 - Women in SF and Fantasy: An Encyclopedia
Women in Science Fiction and Fantasy: An Encyclopedia
Greenwood Press
This information is not the formal/final call which will be distributed starting in June. I would like to thank Farah Mendlesohn who found me a space to do some preliminary work at one of the two conferences from whose membership I expect to find many of my contributors. At this point, I am soliciting early input, regarding possible contributors, and suggestions for entries and topics. I signed the contract with Greenwood in January, and the completion date is January 2007.
This project will produce the first general reference work focusing on women's contributions to science fiction and fantasy. Projected length: 350,000 words.
The focus will be primarily on work in English from the 19th century to the present, covering fiction, nonfiction, film, television, art, comics, graphic novels, music and poetry. Background entries will draw on existing international scholarship on feminism, women writers and fantastic genres to cover major writers in other languages and national traditions. Background entries will also address fantasy by and about women from the Middle Ages through the 1800's. Entries on how the topics of "women" and "gender" have been dealt with by male writers and artists in science fiction and fantasy will also be included.
I wish to solicit contributions from scholars in the following fields: communications and media studies, cultural studies, ethnic studies, film and television studies, gender studies, history, literature, media studies, multicultural studies, sociology, and women's studies. Scholars in other fields working with the fantastic are also encouraged to participate.
Vol. I will consist of thematic essays providing socio-historical context, analysis, and background information on key themes that cross genre boundaries. Two possible schemas are being considered for this volume. The final editorial choice will depend to some extent on the scholarship of the chosen contributors. One approach is chronological but multi-genre essays. An alternate approach would be to focus on a single genre per essay, with each essay covering a given historical period.
Vol. II will consist of the A-to-Z component. Alphabetically organized entries will focus narrowly on key figures and issues. Entry categories, which can apply to any of the media covered by the work, will include (but are not limited to): single entries on significant writers/artists/composers (primarily women but some men); group and background entries on a range of writers/artists/composers not covered in single entries; and single and group entries on characters and character types, genres, historical periods, national traditions, and major themes.
If you have suggestions for themes for essays or entries in any of the genres, please send on a brief statement/rationale (1-2 paragraphs). If you are interested in applying to be a contributor, please send a short statement of research interests and a brief c.v. to:
Robin Reid
Dept. of Literature & Languages
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Commerce TX 75429
Email: wsffencyclopedia AT yahoo.com
Posted by ChrissieMains at April 13, 2005 09:06 PM