CFP: Neil Gaiman, Comic Book Novelist

Another Call for Papers, this time just for one panel at a larger conference (the 2007 College English Association Conference). Note the close deadline for abstracts (November 1, 2006) and that they're looking for papers focused on Gaiman's novels.

"Neil Gaiman: Comic Book Novelist"
Special panel at the 2007 College English Association Conference
March 29-31, 2007
New Orleans, LA
Deadline for submission: November 1, 2006

Neil Gaiman was first noticed by literary scholars for his work in comic books and graphic novels. Several articles and anthologies have been written about his landmark comic series, Sandman, and about his graphic novels. In the past 10 years, though, Gaiman has gained prominence as a novelist. He has authored five novels (Neverwhere [1996], Stardust [1999], American Gods [2001], Coraline [2002], and Anansi Boys [2005]) and has co-authored one novel (Good Omens [1990] with Terry Pratchett). Nevertheless, Gaiman’s novels have received little attention by literary scholars. This panel seeks 10-15 minute papers that explore unexamined questions about Gaiman’s novels. Although this panel will be open to any subject regarding Gaiman’s novels, special areas of interest include:

• Theory of the fantastic
  
• Use of traditional formats in a postmodern world (e.g., American Gods as road novel, Stardust as pre-Tolkien fairy tale)
  
• Deities and faerie creatures as metaphors
  
• The interaction between reader and text/the real and the unreal
  
• Gaiman’s portrayal of America (broadly defined)/Gaiman’s portrayal of England
  
• Literary theories applied to Gaiman’s novels (e.g., psychological, feminist, reader-response, etc.)
  

Abstracts should be 200-500 words, and should be submitted by November 1 at the following website: http://english.ttu.edu/CEA/conftool/index.php

For more information, please visit the following website: http://www2.widener.edu/%7Ecea/conference2006.htm

Tim Peoples
Department of English
Texas State University-San Marcos
Email: tim@litterarius.com

Thanks to Kate for the tip!