Theology and Neil Gaiman

Edited by Zachary B. Smith

This is a call for abstracts for an edited volume in the Theology and Pop Culture series published with Rowman and Littlefield and edited by Zachary B. Smith. We are looking for papers that explore religious and theological themes in the books, short stories, non-fiction essays, movies, and television shows of the awarding-winning author Neil Gaiman.

Possible topics include the relationship between God/gods and humanity; the influence of Gaiman’s Jewish background on his use of religious imagery; the idea of human and divine sacrifice; death and the afterlife; worship and devotion; angels and demons in Good Omens and Christian, Buddhist, and/or Hindu thought; the search for transcendence; the influence of G. K. Chesterton, C. S. Lewis, and/or J. R. R. Tolkien on Gaiman’s writing; critical assessments of his non-fiction essays (especially those on myth or that intersect theology); how place and space intersect the theological themes in his novels; how love and relationships in his short stories intersect with religious ideas of love and devotion; the ebb and flow of religions in light of American Gods and the decline of American religiosity; the relationship between God/gods and their human and divine offspring (e.g., in American Gods or Anansi Boys); suffering and redemption (e.g., in American Gods, Neverwhere, or Coraline); and devotion and devotees in Sandman.

The target audience is scholars of religion, theology, and comparative literature, though essays should also be accessible for educated non-specialists. Prospective authors should submit abstracts of 300-700 words and full CVs by May 31, 2019, to zacharybsmith@creighton.edu. Questions and expressions of interest should be directed to the same address. Authors should expect to deliver full chapters by October 31, 2019, with editorial revisions (if necessary) due by January 15, 2020, for a full manuscript delivery date of January 31, 2020. The book and all chapters will undergo peer review.