Call for Papers

Richard Matheson

Richard Matheson is a prolific writer who has shaped the horror genre through his contributions to literature, film, and television. His work spans genres of horror, science fiction, fantasy, and suspense, totaling more than 90 short stories and 28 full-length novels, including I Am Legend, A Stir of Echoes, What Dreams May Come, and The Incredible Shrinking Man. Seminal horror figures Stephen King and George A. Romero cite Matheson as a major influence, and his writing has inspired multiple film and graphic novel adaptations.

Despite his extensive body of work, Matheson remains largely outside the scope of academia, with little available scholarship of his work. We have been asked by a reputable academic press to compile an as-yet-untitled volume of critical articles about Richard Matheson. Completed articles should be 15-20 pages in length and may address any aspect of Matheson's career, from his original writing to adaptations of his work.

Possible topics include but are not limited to:
• Discourses of superstition and science
• Alienation and isolation
• Disease and decay
• Power and privilege in class inequalities
• Deconstructing mythologies or defying generic expectations
• Shifting concepts of normalcy or aberrant behavior
• Sex and sexuality in gender and marriage roles

Please submit a 250-300 word abstract for publication consideration. The deadline for submissions is June 1, 2012.
Please address all inquiries and submissions to Cheyenne Mathews (cxm3593@ull.edu).

Editors:
Cheyenne Mathews, Department of English, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Dr. Janet V. Haedicke, Department of English, University of Louisiana at Monroe