The 38th Annual Mythopoeic Conference
Mythcon XXXVIII

Theme: "Becoming Adept: The Journey to Mastery"
Clark Kerr Conference Center
Berkeley, California
August 3-6, 2007

Guests of Honor: Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman

Call for Papers

Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman are both Mythopoeic Fantasy Award
winning authors for their novels Thomas the Rhymer and The Porcelain
Dove respectively. Both authors published new novels in 2006,
Kushner's The Privilege of the Sword and Sherman's Changeling.
Kushner's public radio series Sound & Spirit is a renowned weekly
program "exploring the human spirit through music and ideas." Both
have made great contributions to the mythopoeic and interstitial
arts, and we are proud to welcome them to Mythcon 38.

Fantasy literature features many characters who journey along a path
from beginner to adept, from apprentice to master. How is this
journey portrayed? What various highways and byways have such seekers
traveled? What are the stages of transformation and the elements of
the process of achieving mastery? How is mastery demonstrated, and
what happens if these skills are lost? From the seasoning of
Tolkien's Merry and Pippin to the wizard-school training of Ursula K.
Le Guin's Ged and J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter, the journey to mastery
runs throughout fantasy.

Papers dealing with the conference theme are especially encouraged.
We also welcome papers focusing on the work and interests of the
Inklings (especially J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Charles
Williams), of our Guests of Honor, and other fantasy authors and
themes. Papers from a variety of critical perspectives and
disciplines are welcome.

Each paper will be given a one-hour slot to allow time for questions,
but individual papers should be timed for oral presentation in 40
minutes maximum. Participants are encouraged to submit papers chosen
for presentation at the conference to Mythlore, the refereed journal
of the Mythopoeic Society. All papers should conform to the MLA Style
Manual (2nd ed). Paper abstracts (250 word maximum), along with
contact information, should be sent to the Papers Coordinator at the
following address (e-mail is preferable) by April 15, 2007. Please
include your AV requests and the projected time needed for your
presentation. All paper presenters must register for the full
conference; please see the Mythcon 38 web page,
www.mythsoc.org/mythcon38.html, for information and rates.

Eleanor M. Farrell
Mythcon 38 Papers Coordinator
P.O. Box 320486
San Francisco CA 94132-0486
emfarrell_at_earthlink.net

The Mythopoeic Society is an international literary and educational
organization devoted to the study, discussion, and enjoyment of the
works of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and mythopoeic
literature. We believe the study of these writers can lead to greater
understanding and appreciation of the literary, philosophical, and
spiritual traditions which underlie their works, and can engender an
interest in the study of myth, legend, and the genre of fantasy. Find
out about the Society's activities at: www.mythsoc.org.

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Received on Tue Dec 19 2006 - 17:27:01 EST