Gretchen Rockwell, a recent distinction level graduate of Science Fiction and Creative Writing at Dundee, has just had her MLitt final project accepted for publication. Gretchen’s poem was inspired by her studies in SF and by Dundee’s seminal place in the development of the genre, through the work of Mary Shelley.
listen is a book-length cento using lines taken from science fiction novels; these fragments have subsequently been shaped into poetry through the creation of line and shape on the page, reflecting the genre-sparking work of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein where the Creature is crafted from pieces into a whole. The cento explores a gradual questioning which leads the speaker to remake themself into something new.
Congratulations to Gretchen on a wonderful achievement!
For more information and links to some of Getchen’s work take a look here.
Taken from Gretchen’s website: “Gretchen Rockwell is a queer American poet. Xe enjoys writing poetry about gender and sexuality, history, myth, science, space, and unusual connections. Gretchen earned xer MLitt in Science Fiction Studies in 2022, and xer B.A. in English (Writing) in 2015. In addition to attending various writing conferences and poetry festivals in the years since finishing xer degree, Gretchen has led writing workshops and featured in several readings. Currently, xe works as an educator and writing tutor.”