Top of page

Student/Staff Portal
Global Site Navigation

School of Arts and Humanities

Local Section Navigation
You are here: Main Content

Related Contents

Dr Aksel Dadswell

Aksel is a lecturer with the School of Arts and Humanities. Aksel teaches in Creative and Professional Writing and other Arts offerings at ECU South West and Mt Lawley campuses.

Current teaching

  • CCC3109 - Speculative Fiction
  • CCC3102 - Writing the Real
  • WRT1101 - Language and Writing
  • WRT1103 - Creativity and Writing
  • WRT3120 - Biographical and Autobiographical Writing
  • Coordinator - CCC3102, CCC3109, WRT1103, WRT3120

Background

Dr Aksel Dadswell is a horror writer and researcher with a PhD in Creative Writing. His fiction often explores supernatural and human monsters, with a focus on race and gender. His research examines the social impact and value of speculative fiction.

Aksel is the recipient of a number of awards in creative writing and poetry. His short fiction has been published in horror anthologies such as Test Patterns: Creature Features (2018), and Hymns of Abomination: Secret Songs of Leeds (2021).

Awards and recognition

Short Fiction

  • Dadswell, A. (2021). Open Call. In J. Burnett (Ed.), Hymns of abomination: Secret songs of Leeds. Silent Motorist Media.
  • Dadswell, A. (2018). Something Hungrier Than Love. In D. Pesice (Ed.), Test patterns: Creature features. Planet X Publications.
  • Dadswell, A. (2014). The Silent Architect (excerpt from Honours thesis). In D. Mazza, V. McKenzie, & R. Mundy (Eds.). Edith Cowan University South West Arts Graduate Catalogue 2013. Edith Cowan University.
  • Dadswell, A. (2013). Lamprey. In D. Bird (Ed.), Fire: A collection of stories, poems and visual images. Margaret River Press.
  • Dadswell, A. (2012). The Skin is the City. In P. Calleja, J. Crombie, A. Dadswell, A. Hendradjaja, L. Skesteris, & M. Smith (Eds.), Ant hill: Community writing 2012. Edith Cowan University.

Poetry

  • Dadswell, A. (2006). In the Belly of a Flea. Voiceworks, 67(4). Express Media.
  • Dadswell, A. (2005). The Clock Thief. In N. Coetzer (Ed.), Boundaries of the heart: An anthology of Australian verse. Galaxy Publications.

Awards

  • The Beautiful Nightmares of Merrick Underwood (short fiction) – Highly Commended for the 2013 Katharine Susannah Prichard Speculative Fiction/Fantasy Award.
  • Edgar’s Thesaurus (short fiction) – 1st Prize Winner of the 2008 Billabong Valley Short Story Competition.
  • The Dead Cathedral (poem) – 1st Prize Winner of the 2008 FAW Colin Thiele Poetry Award.
  • In the Belly of a Flea (poem) – 1st Prize Winner of the 2005 John Marsden Poetry & Short Story Prize for Young Australian Writers – Published in Voiceworks magazine, issue #67 (see above).

Research areas and interests

  • Speculative fiction that explores contemporary and systemic social issues.
  • Subgenres of horror that explore the darker aspects of the human condition and the monstrous (cosmic horror, folk horror, body horror, gothic).
  • Horror fiction that challenges colonial narratives and utilises fresh narrative perspectives.
  • Scholarly examinations of storytelling in different forms and genres.
Skip to top of page