The UTC Graduate School is pleased to announce that Lillian Ford will present Master’s research titled, Introduction to Magic and Thaumaturgy on 03/11/2026 at 10 AM in Lupton room # 372. Everyone is invited to attend.
English
Chair: Sarah Einstein
Co-Chair: Sybil Baker
Abstract:
This thesis consists of six pieces of short speculative fiction, as well as a short craft essay titled, “Affect and Interiority: Tools of Characterization in Speculative Fiction.” These short stories are rooted within an individual character’s encounter with the spectacular, specifically focusing on how individualized characterization drives the plot forward. These stories range from a young girl coughing up a star, to a young man’s heart exploding in the middle of a Narcotics Anonymous meeting. The six stories of this collection demonstrates the power of character interiority and affect, honing in their ability to create the peculiar tones expected of speculative fiction. The craft paper focuses on this method of characterization as a craft tool within character driven speculative fiction, analyzing how a character’s interiority and affect can be utilized within the narrative. When effectively implemented, these character elements enhance the surreal narratives within the collection, driving their developing plots forward.