Graduate Studies

Speculating the Lit Fantastic 

» Video Transcript

“There was just something about being queer and disabled in a small town that fostered within me a sense of alienation, and also purpose to examine the way our society creates ideas of ‘normalcy’,” says Derek Newman-Stille, a PhD student at Trent University’s Frost Centre for Canadian Studies and Indigenous Studies.

Growing up in a small town in the Kawarthas, Mr. Newman-Stille sought comfort -- and a sense of community -- in books, as many self-proclaimed outliers are wont to do, but says he always found it difficult to relate to the stories found in traditional, ‘realist’ Canadian fiction.

It wasn’t until he was an undergraduate student at Trent University (not studying Canadian fiction, by the way), working at Chapters, that he got his first taste of speculative fiction (horror, science fiction and fantasy) when one of his colleagues suggested he give the work of Kelley Armstrong, a Canadian writer of what Mr. Newman-Stille calls “urban fantasy” known for her “Women of the Otherworld” series, a try.

He was hooked -- and realized that the only way he was going to get the Canadian fiction he was interested in reading was through the imagination and exploration of otherworldly themes and figures found in speculative fiction.

Diversity and disability
Mr. Newman-Stille was also drawn to this genre of literature for its diversity -- specifically its representation of physical, intellectual and psychological disabilities. This is a particularly poignant aspect of the genre for Mr. Newman-Stille, who is disabled.  He has ADD and also uses a cane to walk because of a spinal injury.

Mr. Newman-Stille views his disabilities as something that has inspired his interest in the potential of speculative fiction to imagine new works and new ways of understanding diverse bodies.

Inspired by his academic research on Canadian speculative fiction, Mr. Newman-Stille runs a website and a blog called “Speculating Canada” and hosts a weekly show by the same name on Trent Radio, on air Wednesdays at 4 p.m. this term.

From radio shows to cover art
Both his website and his radio show feature interviews with writers and reviews of books and are designed to increase awareness of this particular brand of fiction and augment the connection between its readers and writers, academics and community. And, as if all of that weren’t enough to keep him busy, Mr. Newman-Stille also creates stunning, intricate illustrations (interior art and covers) for a number of different Canadian speculative magazines. Most recently, he was invited to pen “Northern Chills” -- the introduction to Quill & Quire’s March issue on Canadian horror -- and is over the moon that he “finally has something you can pick up at the local bookstore!”

In 2013 he won an Aurora Award from the Canadian Science Fiction & Fantasy Association for best fan publication for his blog. “I was so nervous I forgot my acceptance speech!” he recalls -- and last year he was selected as a juror on the panel of the Sunburst Award Society for excellence in Canadian literature of the fantastic.

When asked how he is able to do all that he does, Mr. Newman-Stille credits the “amazingly supportive community” at Trent (the place he now calls home), his husband, his colleagues, faculty and the “most amazing advisor”, Dr. Sally Chivers, with his success.

Learn more about Derek Newman-Stille and his work at www.speculatingcanada.ca

NOTE TO ANNE: Additional graphics: http://www.dereknewmanstille.ca/works.php