Gothic Nature: New Directions in Ecohorror and the EcoGothic was originally born as a two-day conference in 2017 held at Trinity College Dublin and supported by funds from the Trinity Trust. The interest the conference received, coupled with the high volume and standard of submissions from speakers around the world, made it clear that Gothic Nature should be more than a one-off event. This enthusiasm has ultimately led to what you hold in your hands (or, more likely, view on your screens) today: a peer-reviewed, open access journal that engages with the all too pressing issues of our increasingly ‘Gothic’ conceptions of, and relationship to, the natural world.

Gothic Nature is run by Elizabeth Parker and Michelle Poland, who bonded over their fascination with the realities and representations of the ‘darker side of nature’ and particular love of the Deep Dark Woods. As two ECRs, we are extremely grateful to have the mentorship and support of established scholars working in the fields of ecohorror and ecoGothic, who have helped bring this journal to fruition by generously agreeing to form our Editorial Board.

We are dedicated in our vision of Gothic Nature to provide the most up-to-date research on all things ecohorror/ecoGothic and to deliberately include a mix of work from newer and more revered scholars in ecocriticism, Gothic and horror studies, and the wider environmental humanities. We warmly welcome contributions from creative writers and artists and are particularly interested in interdisciplinary research.

The journal covers a wide historical perspective and geographical scope. New and innovative ideas and topics will be received with an open mind and enthusiasm; however, broadly, we are seeking submissions that:

  • explore the spectrality, monstrosity, sublimity, and uncanniness of nature in the Gothic imagination, and beyond.
  • build on and engage with definitions of ecoGothic and/or ecohorror.
  • consider how Gothic and horror give expression to, and register the anxieties of, environmental crisis.

Please keep an eye on the CFPs for each edition, which include further detail and information.

If you have an idea for a Special Issue of Gothic Nature that you would like to guest edit, please get in touch with us at gothicnaturejournal@gmail.com.

Open Access Policy

All the material published at Gothic Nature can be freely accessed. We are proud to be a part of an international movement making research freely available to the public in the pursuit of a greater global exchange of knowledge.

Authors of articles remain the copyright holders. All articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY 4.0), which permits third parties the right to use, reproduce, and share the article, provided the original author and source are credited. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Peer Review Process

Articles submitted to the journal are assessed by members of the Editorial Board of Gothic Nature, who decide whether the article is suitable for publication. If selected for publication, the reviewer provides a detailed reader’s report, which is then sent back to the author, via the journal’s co-editors. Gothic Nature operates a robust double-blind peer review process, meaning that authors and reviewers remain anonymous throughout the review process. Reviews are always conducted independently by experts in the field(s) who assess the article for clarity, validity, and sound methodology. Peer review usually takes 2-3 months although may, in some circumstances, take longer. Formative feedback will always be provided, even if an article is not deemed suitable for this journal.