Call for Papers: Special Issue on Detective Fiction

Detective fiction has captivated readers for over a century, evolving from its roots in the 19th century to encompass a diverse array of subgenres and styles. From the cerebral puzzles of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes to the hard-boiled narratives of Raymond Chandler, detective fiction not only entertains but also reflects societal anxieties, moral dilemmas, and the complexities of justice and truth. Detective fiction has been explored from various perspectives, considering the growing nature of crimes in society. Many regional writers also started to develop this genre with local elements and created their singularity. This special issue seeks to explore new perspectives on detective fiction, inviting scholars to delve into its rich tapestry and uncover the layers of meaning and cultural significance embedded within.We invite submissions that examine detective fiction through various lenses, including but not limited to literary analysis, cultural studies, gender studies, and historical contexts. We are particularly interested in papers that offer fresh insights into the genre, challenge traditional interpretations, and explore its intersections with other literary forms and cultural phenomena. We are trying to understand issues such as how detective fiction reflects the historical and cultural contexts in which it was written, how we explore detective fiction in non-Western cultures, and how it adapts to local contexts. We must also consider the gender issues within the field of detective fiction. Hence, we shall try to explore how female detectives challenge or reinforce gender norms within the genre and how they question the representation of masculinity and the male detective figure.The blending of detective fiction with other genres, such as science fiction, fantasy, and horror, is also very common now. Therefore, the analysis of detective fiction as a genre-bending narrative and its impact on reader expectations become very important. In detective fiction, ethics, morals, and justice are crucial, which leads us to understand how detective stories grapple with ethical dilemmas and notions of social justice.The evolution of detective fiction in contemporary digital media, including television, film, and interactive media, also gives us insight into how modern technology has reshaped the tradition of this genre. Therefore, we welcome submissions of abstracts (not more than 250 words with five keywords)on the following subthemes,although articles on the allied field may be considered.

Subthemes:

Adaptations or Retellings of Detective Figures

Detection and “Cripistemology”  

Detective Fiction and Disability

Detective Fiction and Ethics, Morality and Justice

Detective Fiction and Gender

Detective Fiction and Genre Hybridization

Detective Fiction and Psychological Dimensions

Detective Fiction and Science

Detective Fiction and the Digital Age

Detective Tropes in Gothic literature, sensation fiction, Weird literature

Gender-bent or Queer Reworkings of Detective Tropes in Speculative Genres

Regional Detective Fiction

The Liminality of the Detective Figure.

Tropes such as The Dark Double, The Femme Fatale, The Locked Room, etc., in Detective Genre

Issue Editor: Prof. Pinaki Roy, Raiganj University, West Bengal, India. 

Last date for Abstract Submission: 31 July, 2024. 

Abstract Submission Email: cj.detective.24@gmail.com 

Contact Information:

For inquiries regarding this special issue, please contact the guest editors at [contact email].