Journal of Science Fiction Special Issue on Environmental Studies Reopened [EXTENDED DEADLINE - 6/1/2020]

2020-04-16

Political and intellectual discourse over the last two decades is replete with the ominous potential of climate change. And for good reason, too – if the burning of the Amazon, the melting of the polar ice caps, and the scarcity and pollution of water in Flint, MI and cities across the nation tell us anything, it should be that the environment is intensely formidable, magnificently sublime, and indefinitely malleable, constantly changing before our very eyes. Over the last several years, studies of science fiction have come into contact with environmental sciences and studies through terms like ecofiction, cli-fi, and most prominently, (post)apocalyptic fiction. As a genre built upon the assumption of change – amongst people, institutions, and ecosystems – science fiction (and speculative fiction more broadly) offers an avenue for progressive discourses, and through works of near-future fiction, serves as a warning about the consequences of our present environmental practices.

We are seeking academic articles of 5,000 to 8,000 words, short reflection pieces of 500 to 1,000 words, and book reviews of 500-750 words by Monday, June 1st.

We welcome submissions focused on any and all aspects of environmental science fiction, and we are especially interested in works that offer insight into (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Connections between science fiction and the environment;
  • Ecocritical readings of fiction and media;
  • Environment and sub-genres of speculative fiction like dystopian and (post)apocalyptic fictions;
  • Political discourse regarding global warming and science fiction;
  • Representations of environmental disaster;
  • Analyses of authors whose oeuvres are specifically concerned with the environment (such as Octavia Butler and Margaret Atwood);
  • Post-apocalyptic culture and concerns;
  • Scarcity of resources;
  • Applications of theory (social science, geology, psychology);
  • Metaphors for climate change
  • Non-Fiction
  • Artwork
  • Music
  • Book Reviews
  • Interviews

Special consideration will be given to essays addressing literature, theory, and contemporary texts and trends.

Please submit completed essays through the MOSF Journal of Science Fiction website, http://publish.lib.umd.edu/scifi/index. To submit your work, click "About" > "Submissions: Online Submissions", create an account, and follow the submission prompts.

OR

Email to: aisha.matthews@museumofsciencefiction.org  

Remember to include the following as separate documents:

  • Your demographic information (can be contained in email)
  • Name, Affiliations, Contact Information
  • Abstract (up to 300 words) & Keywords
  • Essay containing no identifying markers (to ensure double-blind peer review)

Manuscripts should be submitted as .doc, .docx, or .rtf files. All submissions should be in APA style. The text of the manuscript and the reference list should be submitted as a single file.