Queering Faith in Fantasy Literature: Fantastic Incarnations and the Deconstruction of Theology

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Fantasy literature inhabits the realms of the orthodox and heterodox, the divine and demonic simultaneously, making it uniquely positioned to imaginatively re-envision Christian theology from a position of difference. Having an affinity for the monstrous and the other, and a preoccupation with desires and forms of embodiment that subvert dominant understandings of reality, fantasy texts hold hitherto unexplored potential for articulating queer and feminist religious perspectives. Focusing primarily on fantastic literature of the mid- to late twentieth century, this book examines how Christian theology in the genre is dismantled, re-imagined and transformed from the margins of gender and sexuality. Aligning fantasy with Derridas theories of deconstruction, Taylor Driggers explores how the genre can re-figure God as the other excluded and erased from theology. Through careful readings of C.S. Lewiss Till We Have Faces, Angela Carters The Passion of New Eve, and Ursula K. Le Guins The Left Hand of Darkness and the Earthsea novels, Driggers contends that fantasy can challenge cis-normative, heterosexual, and patriarchal theology. Also engaging with the theories of Hlne Cixous, Luce Irigaray, Marcella Althaus-Reid, and Linn Marie Tonstad, this book demonstrates that whilst fantasy cannot save Christianity from itself, nor rehabilitate it for marginalised subjects, it confronts theology with its silenced others in a way that bypasses institutional debates on inclusion and leadership, asking how theology might be imagined otherwise.

Reviews

In Queering Faith in Fantasy Literature, Taylor Driggers begins with the idea of undressing theology through fantasy, then applies this practice to rich and varied texts within the genre of the queer fantastic. Through sharp, heartfelt analysis of work by Ursula Leguin, Samuel Delany, and Angela Carter, among other compelling fantasists, Driggers reveals how the intersection of fantasy and theology celebrates the very best of queer and trans futures. Theres something for everyone in this book: dragons and drag, nonbinary aliens, polyamorous theology, and deep dives into gender studies and poststructuralist theory. Driggers own passion for the texts is visible in every chapter, and this book reminds us that LGBTQ2+ folks living outside the gates of normative Christianity deserve a queer, dragon-blooded spirituality. This is one of the first substantial treatments of queer desire and theology in fantasy fiction, and it opens up enchanted doors for readers who may have found it difficult to reconcile their faith with their queer and trans embodiment. We can all share in the dragons laugh as we rediscover works of fantasy by this books wonderful light. * Professor Jes Battis, University of Regina, USA *
Bringing together deconstruction, Christian theology, and fantastic texts this book generates new and illuminating perspectives on each. Through close and intelligent readings of CS Lewis, Angela Carter, and Ursula Le Guin, Driggers shows how encounters between Christian theology and fantasy literature can open up both to queer and feminist religious perspectives. A fascinating and timely contribution to the study of the fantastic. * Dr. Una McCormack, Anglia Ruskin Centre for Science Fiction, UK *

Author Bio

Taylor Driggers holds a PhD on English Literature from the University of Glasgow, UK, where he teaches fantasy literature and gender theory.