Mythcon 54 main page

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Call for Papers

Submission Deadline: Mar 31st, 2026

Download PDF of Call for Papers here

CONFERENCE THEME: GET YOUR FANTASY KICKS ON ROUTE 66

Join us in Weatherford OK, where Mythcon 54 will celebrate the 100th anniversary of “The Mother Road,” Route 66.

Mythcon 54 invites proposals for papers that explore fantasy, horror, sci-fi, indigenous texts — of all genres and modes — that evoke a sense of place, of travel, of the road, of passage through landscapes, which potentially spark encounters with the uncanny, the fantastical, and the nightmarish. Themes or patterns might include:

• - Lost highways
• - Surprising road trips or short cuts
• - Portals to the unknown
• - Temporal shifts across boundaries
• - A sense of the fluid experience of “the road”
• - Faerie and the fay
• - Indigenous or folkloric roads/passages that alter reality, consciousness, and time

In keeping with the Mythopoeic Society’s archive residing near the conference at SWOSU, presentations on the role of archives in fantasy literature would be welcome. General proposals highlighting the Inklings or other works of fantasy/Mythopoeia, of course, are also always welcome, as are papers on the works and interests of our guests of honor, David R. Slayton and Joe R. Christopher. Papers from a variety of critical perspectives and disciplines are welcome.

Each paper will be given a 50-minute slot to allow time for questions and travel time in between sessions. Individual papers should be timed for oral presentation in 40 minutes maximum. Panels are also welcome, with the same time constraints, and both papers and panels may be presented virtually or in person. Paper abstracts and panel proposals of no more than 300 words, along with contact information, whether you intend to present in-person or virtually, and A/V requirements (if any), should be sent to the Papers Coordinator, Cami Agan, at papers @ mythcon.org by March 31st, 2026.

All presenters are expected to register for the full conference, either in-person or online depending on their method of presentation.

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 9th edition of the MLA Style Manual, and authors should refer to the Mythlore style sheet for further details.

Presenters who are full-time undergraduate or graduate students are encouraged to submit their completed conference papers in advance for consideration for the Alexei Kondratiev Student Paper Award. Please see www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/alexei.htm for more information.

The Mythopoeic Society has instituted a policy on AI-generated content for our events and publications. It can be viewed HERE. Please review and consider this policy when preparing your submission.

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ABOUT THE MYTHOPOEIC SOCIETY

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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